The History of Levi’s 501 Jeans

Levi’s jeans were invented in 1873 when Levi Strauss partnered with Jacob Davis to put rivets on pants for the first time. They were first referred to as 501s in 1890 and in 1922, belt loops were added to the pants. The iconic red tab was added in 1936 and in 1946, the arched design on the back pocket was trademarked. In 2016, the 501 was made available in stretch fabric and Levi’s also introduced 501 skinny jeans. Famous icons who have worn the jeans include Steve Jobs, Kurt Cobain, Jane Birkin, and Marilyn Monroe, just to name a few. Needless to say, the jeans are still iconic and popular today.