Jeans celebrate 140th birthday

Exactly 140 years ago blue jeans were born. This piece of clothing has swept the world for past half century and became “urban uniform” for people of all ages and professions, suitable for all occasions.

In late May 1873 clothing manufacturer Levi Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis started producing “Levi’s” brand of jeans after the United States approved their patent covering the use of copper rivets for strengthening the pockets.

Jeans are made of cotton. Some believe that the oldest known forerunner of texas is thick Indian canvas (16th century) from Bombay, while others are of the opinion that the jeans were first produced in Genoa in the 17th century for the members of the Navy, which required clothes for all weather conditions. The name 'jeans' comes from the French 'Le Bleu de Genes', meaning 'Genoa Blue' (color).

People in the U.S. had been using jeans as work clothes until James Dean showed up wearing them in the movie “Rebel Without a Cause”. In 1950s they became a symbol of youth rebellion.