Levi Strauss & Co. has been a cornerstone of denim history and is credited with creating iconic blue jeans. This year, the brand’s dedication to its rich heritage culminates in the release of the Levi’s Vintage Clothing 9Rivet jeans. This meticulously crafted reproduction celebrates the oldest known pair of jeans in the Levi’s Archives, giving a glimpse into the origins of the Levi’s 501 and its influence on global fashion.
The 9Rivet collection was inspired by the Levi’s Archives, led by Levi’s Vintage Clothing Design Director Paul O’Neill and Historian Tracey Panek. This search aimed to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the patent for ‘an Improvement in Fastening Pocket Openings,’ which was granted on May 20, 1873. This patent marks the official birth of the Levi’s 501.
A pair of jeans from the 1870s with only nine rivets instead of the standard eleven was chosen to be reinterpreted. This unique feature and other historical details led them to confirm that this was the oldest pair in the archives. Dubbed ‘9Rivet,’ this garment predates other known pairs and is the spotlight of Levi’s latest vintage revival.
The 9Rivet jeans are a faithful reproduction of the original. Crafted from 9 oz. Plain Selvedge Cone Mills White Oak Denim, these jeans feature a single back pocket, exposed rivets, an unriveted center-back cinch, a pre-1875 Levi’s leather patch, denim pocket bags, sewn-on buttons, and a watch pocket sewn onto the waistband. To keep the jeans true to the era, single-needle arcuate stitching and crotch gusset were used to ensure that each pair was as authentic as possible.
The Levi’s Vintage Clothing 9Rivet jeans were released last May 20th in celebration of 501 Day. They are restricted to just 800 pairs in a specially designed Levi’s Archive package. They retail for $495 and can be purchased from the official Levi’s website, through the Levi’s App, and at select Levi’s stores.
