LS&Co. Unzipped
May 19 2010
Happy Birthday, Blue Jeans!
It was 137 years ago today when the awarding of a U.S. patent – number 139,121, if you’re into details – essentially led to the invention of blue jeans.
That patent was for the process of strengthening men’s work pants with copper rivets. And it was awarded to Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss & Co.
Levi Strauss was a dry goods wholesaler in San Francisco when Davis approached him about a great new system for making sturdy men’s work pants – with rivets. Davis needed a business partner to make the innovation work. And Levi, who supplied Davis with fabric, agreed to work with him.
Davis had been making riveted pants out of white cotton duck material for his Reno customers since 1871, and after the patent came through two years later, LS&Co. began to make pants from blue denim.
Originally called “waist overalls” or simply “overalls” to distinguish them from bib overalls – these first jeans had one pocket in back and two pockets plus the watch pocket in front. They also had a strap and buckle on the back of the waistband to cinch the pants in, and buttons for suspenders to hold the pants up.
The Arcuate stitching design, now seen on virtually all Levi’s® jeans, was there from the beginning. We don’t know why it was first used or what the design was meant to represent – a result of the loss of our records in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.
The denim came from the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester, New Hampshire. Their top-of-the-line denim was so famous it was simply called “XX,” and that’s the name we gave to the first jeans. They were given their 501® trademark in 1890.
Patents are exclusive to their inventors for only 17 years. In 1890, LS&CO. was no longer the only company to make riveted clothing.
But we created this new category of men’s clothing – today called blue jeans – 137 years ago, a fact that no competitor, new or old, can ever dispute.
Posted By: Lynn Downey, Historian, Levi Strauss & Co. |
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Sandra (not verified) - Jul 17 2011
Agreeing with just about everybody on this page. Bring back plain old 100% cotton jeans for women. That's all I've bought for the last 20 years. They last, they're comfortable and I'm sad to say my last pair just fell pretty much to pieces and now I'm out of luck. Looks like I'll be switching brands. Some women still like regular denim with a normal waist, relaxed fit and tapered leg. Not all of us like the Lycra or look good wearing it. Sorry, but you've lost a loyal customer.
Valerie (not verified) - Jun 26 2011
What happened to the 100% 12oz cotton Jeans??? When I buy I buy several pair. If I would have known that Levi's was going to make a poor choice to stop production, I would have gotten a truck load!! I see the comments about the attempt to address the request by trying recycled (what is that) 100% cotton. Not promising. I will NOT wear stretch jeans ever and have trouble finding anything to substitute. I am a dedicated Levi's consumer for my life time ( 40++) and don't want to have to change. I will be hard to go back once I switch. Why mess with tradition???
Kim (not verified) - Jun 18 2011
What are you guys thinking with all the stretch stuff and inseams ?? Levi's used to be the best jeans out there as far as I was concerned. They looked great on every body. Now my old freinds are just completely gone. I had a few pairs with the stretch crap and they were wear-able. Now that it's time to replace them I can't do it. You've made them with more stretch and made it so that us kinda tall/kinda skinny people have no options at all. Bring back 100% cotton jeans or at the very minimum, bring them back to the standards they were a few years ago. You also need to look at your inseams. There are smaller people out there who need an inseam longer than 32. And, last but not least, bring back plain medium wash jeans. No whiskering or whatever you guys call it. Just good old blue jeans...like they used to be !!! You guys need to hire some new marketing people cause you don't seem to have a clue anymore. Thanks
Sherry (not verified) - Jun 13 2011
Please bring back 100% cotton jeans!! I hate the feel of the stretch fabric.
Sherry (not verified) - Jun 10 2011
I'm with everyone else here. Please bring back the 100% cotton women's jeans with no stretch. I can't stand stretch in my jeans. The crotch doesn't fit right and hangs low. The waist stretches out throughout the day. I feel like I'm wearing sausage casing. Not a good look or fit. I've been wearing Levis for a very long time (30+ years) and have noticed muich inconsistency with sizing and length over the past few years. I feel that the quality just isn't there any more. And, I know the editor will probably comment on the quality thing and challenge me with their guarantee. Anytime a pair of Levis doesn't perform, back it goes to the store. Please bring back 100% cotton jeans.
Lori (not verified) - Jun 08 2011
I really really hate spandex. Please bring back 100% cotton for women.
feroz (not verified) - Jun 06 2011
Where can I get the original 501 made in usa?Most of them are made in China and Mexico.
Robin (not verified) - Jun 03 2011
I would also like to see more fit options available in women's 100% cotton jeans. It is disappointing that those of us with curvy figures (small waist, larger hips) are left with only high lycra content stretchy clingy jeans that never feel like real denim. I have been buying from LL Bean since they have a 1% lycra curvy jean that still has the heft of good denim. I also have some Levis 580s, but they are 2% lycra. Make those in 100% cotton and they would be great! I will check the online options, but jeans vary so much in fit, you just have to guess and order blind. Real denim wears better and feels better.
abseygale (not verified) - May 30 2011
I hope that Levis will consider using the innovative curves fit system to make 100% cotton jeans in the USA, complete with rivets and other vintage details. Spandex feels great at first, but it does not wear well over time. The older 100% cotton Levis were great because they were well-made and improved with age. It's truly heartbreaking to go to the Levis store and see it filled with cheap imported jeans that don't live up to the brand's heritage. I'd be all for importing if the quality was better, but it has gone downhill.
Charlene (not verified) - May 29 2011
Bring back 100% cotton with some weight to it! Sausage casing jeans (a.k.a. stretch) are revolting. Our hefty populous might like the flex - but just look at these people from behind - it is frightening! Even skinny people look cheap in them IMHO.
Melissa (not verified) - May 29 2011
I don't have much more to add to the 100% cotton jeans discussion. Everyone has covered the frustration well. I just want to add one more voice for emphasis. I did stop wearing jeans because of the spandex, elastine or whatever about 5 years ago. Every few months I do a search to see if anyone has come up with a 100% cotton jean again. This is the first discussion that I have found that seems to be reaching the right people. I hope this starts some market research on the desire for good ol' 100% American cotton to be made again. I'd pay over $100 a pair for something good again. No doubt about it. Levis, Gap, somebody, take the plunge!
rick (not verified) - May 25 2011
I just found this site so here is my pitch ... Please bring back the REAL mens slim fit 512 of 5 -10 years ago . I have tried them all and I don't like the fit of the 514, the new cut of 512 or the 511 , or the 501. Only the original mens slim fit 512 with real blue/stonewashed denim works for me . It's the only thing that feels and fits right . I am sure I am not the only one who is tired of shopping for a suitable replacement for the original 512 . The fact is I don't want to shop for jeans . I want to go to the store buy the jeans and go home . Why are the best things always replaced by something new that is totally unacceptable ?
Leigh (not verified) - May 14 2011
There still are a few 100% cotton jeans for women, try the 501 or the Boyfriend jean. They both come in 100% cotton. Personally I wear boys 511 and 510 because they're not as "stretchy". Also Levi's is bringing back American made denim for those who are interested ;-)
Donna (not verified) - May 13 2011
I miss the 100% cotton Levis that were once available in a style that would cover the hips and come up to the waist. I refuse to wear the jeans that hang low on the hips because I feel like I constantly need to pull my pants back up. No retail stores in my area carries these and they're getting hard to locate at the used clothing stores. I love jeans, but may be forced out of them. Is there anyplace that offers the old style jeans (even if it's not 100% cotton)? I'd prefer Levis, but at this point, I'll try any jeans maker - the style of the jean is more important to me than the manufacturer. I feel like my generation made jeans popular and now we're getting kicked to the curb.
Elizabeth (not verified) - May 11 2011
Please bring back all the 100 percent cotton jeans we used to know and love: 501s, 515s, etc. for women. I am forced to wear spandex low cut jeans and often have to wear a belt with them just to hold them up after a few hours of wearing. I didn't used to have to wear a belt with the 100 percent cotton jeans. I don't want a high waist but don't want a real low waist either. I don't like "Mom" jeans either. I don't like the feel of wearing rubber jeans that springs and pops back when you pull on them. Who ever invented spandex anyway? I still have a decent figure and don't want to look frumpy.
Vivian Norman (not verified) - May 11 2011
I applaud all of those who voice their opinions about the good old 100 percent cotton Levi's that I too once loved, and yes I too am still waiting for Levi's that we all loved to come back on the market-I just hope I am still around to enjoy them. One would think with so many people asking for them, that this great company would do something about it, well just maybe another jean manufacturer will be reading our comments and jump on the opportunity to copy the old styles Here's to hoping
Ethel (not verified) - May 08 2011
Levi's is proud that they've been around for over 100 years, but they no longer appear to be interested in supplying products to the baby boomers that wore their jeans for years. I am dismayed to find out that 100% cotton jeans from Levi's are no longer made for women. An integral part of buying jeans is to TRY them on. Purchasing jeans online are not the same, nor are the prices apparently. For years, Levis were the brand of choice for generations, not Lee not LL Bean, nor any of the other companies that also sell jeans. Now, it appears that women are having to abandon the company that they purchased from for years because of a corporate decision to ignore half of their clientele. Originally, I was disappointed when Levi's stopped making jeans in the US because American jobs were going overseas. I never realized that Levi's would not stop employing american factory workers but would also redesign their denim looms and totally screw up the look and feel of a classic. Please Levi's, reevaluate your corporate decisions and answer the needs of your customers. Start making AND selling 100% cotton jeans for women in your stores again. You may be gaining young customers but you are also making a lot of your customers upset and are forcing them to go elsewhere. Bring back quality products and get rid of this asian junk that you so proudly put your name on now. It's an embarressment to America and the "original american jean" that made your company so famous. Maybe your CEO should do an Undercover Boss show so that he/she could see what your customers really want. I imagine that he doesn't have to wear the cheap levi junk that is coming out of the women's dept. Otherwise, he'd be experiencing a saggy butt after one wearing and jeans that even the zipper breaks after a week. How can I recycle them like your tag says? They don't even last a quarter of the time that a real Levi's jean lasts. Wake up Levi's. Your customers are not all teenaged girls, nor are they men. They are real women who want their cotton back.
Betty (not verified) - May 04 2011
I have came across a pair of levi strasuss signature Babby Jeans made in eqypt 10 regular & 1000% ALGODON has an upc # also are they worth anything with the red stitch inside.
Rosemary (not verified) - May 03 2011
We need and want 100% cotton jeans in high quality denims, and white and black. No spandex. We hate stretch, it looks shabby and low on the hips looks equally unkempt. Please make quality clothing here in the U.S. I have read all of the comments above and your responses so no need to repeat your spiel about corporate decisions to make jeans in other countries, or "boy friend" jeans. Those are lousy answers. You wish you could offer more cotton options? Well, do it then. Presently, LL Bean is getting my business, but I USED TO love my old Levi's 515s and 550s they fit perfectly. now I cannot buy any of your products. thankfully I still have my old jeans and as beat up as they are in the knees, they still fit in the waist and butt. wake up Levi's you are turning into a follower not a leader
Daphne (not verified) - May 03 2011
I followed this link trying to find 100% cotton jeans. The best jeans levis ever made was the womens silver tabs! They were loose and had a great fit to them. There is not a pair of jeans out there right now worth giving money for, they are all stretch. Not everyone wants to look like their jeans have been spray painted on! Honestly I have had to start wearing mens jeans just because of the lack of 100% cotten Jeans. I am a female Line Technician, I work on telepnone poles all day and I have to have loose jeans to be able to climb in. Not to mention they have to be 100% cotton so if I come in contact with power they will not melt to my skin like spandex does. Not everyone needs to follow the same fashion trend but that is exactly what has happened with this stupid strech blue jeans. I beg of you Levis, Please bring back the normal jeans! 100% cotton and a pair that fits loose in the legs. At This point I will pay top dollar for Jeans. Thanks for listening and I hope you consider bringing them back!
Lauren (not verified) - May 02 2011
The current options available in 100% cotton at Levi.com are so few, what's the point? And to not even be able to try them on in a store. Bring back quality made 100% cotton jean. I'm currently wearing a pair of Lev's San Francisco Demi Curve that I bought only a week ago. There are already stretched out and falling off my rear-end. I'm very disappointed. Sure stretch seems good in the store, but they are useless when you wear them for a while, well, not even a while. Its better to wiggle into a pair of jeans in the fitting room and wear them to make them your own. Also, its not too soon to bring production back to the US. I actively seek out products made in the USA, I let the Levi's slide because I thought it would be worth it. It wasn't. I guess its time to start hitting second hand stores to find lightly used 100% cotton jeans.
CF (not verified) - May 01 2011
Joining the chorus for 100% cotton, classic boot cut. We may be old enough to remember when they were made this way but that doesn't mean we're ready for the horrid 550 mom-jeans, and the boyfriend jeans flatter no one. i have paid over $200 for other brands without blinking an eye. You want me, and the rest of these commenters as customers! There's not a single brand out there, from the cheapest to the highest end designer, that offers this.
Marita (not verified) - Apr 26 2011
I am totally dismayed that Levi's has changed their product and not for the better. I was looking for a simple pair of Levi's 100% cotton jeans and I went to 2 Levi's store. In both of the stores, the sales reps acted as if I was from a different planet. I was told to go to Kmart, maybe they have what I want. Ummm, they are the Levi's store. One would think that it would be carrying classic Levi's jeans. Nope! Apparently, sometime in the last few years (yes, my Levi's have lasted for several years), Levi's decided that the best thing to do was to outsource to China and destroy their 100% cotton looms which made Levi's denim the best. Please start making the 100% cotton jeans AND carry them in your stores. There are plenty of customers that still want a decently made pair of jeans.
Wendy (not verified) - Apr 25 2011
Please, please, PLEASE BRING BACK 100% COTTON WOMEN'S JEANS like the old favorites I used to buy! Please? I absolutely detest the one's with stretch. They have to be too tight at first and then they sag and bag (in all the wrong places) after about 30 minutes - and Ladies? Have you ever looked at your behind after wearing them for awhile? (you should - it's not always pretty). I LOVED my cotton jeans - black, indigo, stone washed - just loved them and lived in them. I live in a major metropolitan area and a new, large all Levi's store opened up a few months ago. They ONLY one's that came 100% cotton were in mens - BUT, none small enough to fit me. So after an hour of trying on practically every kind in that nice big store - I walked out empty handed and deeply disappointed. I use to have to search for smaller sizes that were also long enough (just because a woman in tiny, doesn't mean she's short too, btw) - but at least 10 years ago I could find them. Now? No such luck. ... I long for the days of soft, fresh, cotton jeans that were comfortable, durable and felt good on your body - like an old friend you could count on. I searched the levi's site and found only 1 pair that listed as 100% cotton and the reviews were BAD. What's happened? I don't understand why the guys jeans are offered in the same heavy 100% cotton but we women aren't allowed the same consideration... and if this is all the buyers are purchasing to fill their department stores - they aren't getting my business either.
strideranne (not verified) - Apr 19 2011
I followed all the links on this page for recommendations for 100% cotton jeans available on levis.com - to bad all the jeans' waistlines come up to my neck or the jeans is "distressed." Levis has to remember that we grew up in low rise pants - why would we change our comfort tastes now? I also refuse to buy jeans that have bee pre-ruined.
leeks (not verified) - Apr 09 2011
I second many of the comments above about wanting 100% cotton womens levis to come back. And not with a bunch of holes in them or wierd feathering patterns or anything else trendy. Just plain five pocket blue jeans in a few different shades of blue. The kind that actually last long enough to get worn in! I only like the bootcut 515 style. I have a pair from high school that was 100% cotton and I have carried it around through several different moves. I will probably never fit into that pair again but I refuse to get rid of them because they were such high quality and the perfect cut for me. For about the last decade I have been miserable about jeans options. Today's offerings are such a disappointment. Levi's I buy now are thin, stretchy and fall apart within a few months. They also are inconsistent sizing and poorly stitched. It is also very difficult to find them without predistressed features. Please bring back 515 in a heavy weight 100% cotton plain denim style. No stretch! No distressing! I would gladly pay top dollar for these if they could be found. Mail or internet only orders would be fine. You really used to make such a great product, I'm sad it is no longer available.
Victoria French (not verified) - Mar 30 2011
Hello, On the subject of 100% cotton made in the USA jeans, could you help me locate a bootcut jean, 100% cotton which is not super low rise but not mommy waist. I should add, I am looking for a size 2p or 3. I would be so grateful.
KosherShiksa (not verified) - Mar 25 2011
I looked through all the comments and visited all the links and still find nothing. Please give modern cut, stylish jeans in 100% cotton! For religious reasons I can't wear mixed fabric clothing and it seems that no matter how hard I look, no one has 100% cotton jeans that aren't ugly like your boyfriend jeans. I wanted a fitted pair of jeans in a modern cut and length. Everywhere I look manufacturers insist on mixing plastic and rubbery products in their natural cotton fabric! Please please please give us a 100% cotton jean at a reasonable price (under $100). I can buy 100% organic cotton jeans in a stylish cut online for %100 but I didn't want to spend that much.
Kate (not verified) - Mar 16 2011
If I wear a size 10 in womens levis what size do I wear in juniors? 11? 13?
Susan (not verified) - Mar 03 2011
I posted (a rather long) comment before, but I think I have a good idea. There are obviously people who want the old, Made in the USA, 100% cotton denim Levis. Why not provide a service that caters to that group? And if the tweens and others prefer the stretch, Made in China and Mexico versions then let them have that too. Here is what I propose, a mail order service where one could order according to a preset measurement the style and size that is desired (wth the option to return if it does not fit). I have before me a Levis brochure that I kept titled "the Look that Fits", it lists all the style for women, men, and kids. Among the styles, the 50, 512, and 531 styles the waist measurement is given, along with the hip, rise, and different measurements along the length of the leg. I also have a receipt for a very expensive pair of Made in China jeans, Elie Tahari, 98% cotton, 2% polyurethane that I paid $238 CDN (before tax). I had wanted a pair of jeans before going to London and could not find any of the regular brands, Levis included (Made in Mexico), that had symmetrical, straight inseams. I would be willing to pay that amount of money for a pair of Made in Canada or Made in the USA Levis 531s, 100% cotton. jeans. Perhaps no one else feels the way I do about paying more for a pair of jeans? One final comment, there is a pair of Levis on ebay, with a "buy it now" feature. They are listed as Womens 501, size 36 deadstock from the 70s. I can tell they are not the genuine article but a fake. Apart from the labels inside and out, is the way the Levis leather tab on the back of the waist was sewn on, it is quite irregular, and not evern. Asking price for the fake deadstock? US $89.99 I am saying there is a market for more expensive Levis. People will sometimes pay a lot, if it is what they want.
Shelly Miles (not verified) - Mar 02 2011
Please give us a 100% cotton jean that is slim fitting and tight. I do not have perfect thighs and therefore don't appreciate the stretch giving way right at the spot that makes them touch at the top.
Susan (not verified) - Feb 28 2011
I will add my "two cents' worth" in regard to levis 100% cotton jeans for women. I am 60, therefore for me the Levi's 100% cotton jean is in part nostalgia. I prefer the old made in Canada or USA Levis to the Made in China or Mexico stuff that is usually stretch.Why everything has to stretch and move with you is beyond me. I did a Google of the women's 512 jeans because I found one on ebay that I am somewhat hesitant in buying because the jeans have ironed in creases but they are size 12 regular long, with an inseam of 33.5 inches , 100% cotton and I can see the inseams are straight and the item is Made in Canada. That is another issue, I find very often jeans made offshore are not sewn with the seams straight. I may be able to flatten out the creases and will probably buy them as this pair will more than likely be the last pair of this type that I will come across. I have a pair of Levis for Women 521 in storage, a size 8, which is 100% cotton. They do not fit but perhaps I may be able to one day get into them. I think that the design of them is far superior to any of the Made in China stuff I see now. I used to wear 531's which is a curvy version of the 512s, if I had known they were going to be discontinued (which was in the mid-nineties) I would have bought a lifetime supply of them. One denim store manager explained to me when I commented on the lack of 100% cotton jeans, that jeans are now a fashion item and that the 100% cotton jeans were heavy and the stretch or polyeyster/cotton jeans are lighter. I was aware that she was too young to have ever have worn the 100% cotton jeans, they would have been before her time. One last note I still have a pair of womens 100% cotton denim Two-Horse Levis overalls, in perfect condition. I have seen them sell on ebay for $100, with 8 or so bidders competeing. They are no longer made. The Made in China brand is not the same, be it Royal Doulton (and that is fcoming from a gift registry saleswoman) or Levis Strauss.
Editor's note: Thanks for your comment, Susan. In terms of 100% cotton product, as noted elsewhere on the blog, we have several women's styles available on Levi.com, if not in your favorite store. Just do a site search for 100% cotton. They're all backed by our lifetime quality guarantee against manufacturer's defects, no matter where they're made. If you find such a defect, I encourage you to contact our Consumer Relations team.
Tosca (not verified) - Feb 25 2011
Why is it that none of the plain, simple, non-emblished relaxed fit womens jeans come in a size 10 or equivilent? As I was searching your site, especially looking for 100% cotton jeans there were in my size except cropped or patched. As a size 10 I am too small for plus size and apparently too big for regular size. At my current size skinny and slim fit jeans do no justice to my body. Is there any chance that you will be carring those middle sizes in a relaxed fit womens jeans anytime in the near future?
Editor's note: Thanks, Tosca, for your comment. I checked in with a (female) colleague of mine on the Consumer Relations team. She routinely handles consumer questions like yours and says that size 10 -- or waist 30 -- is actually one of our most popular sizes and is offered in a variety of styles and finishes. She offered this link to a few options on Levi.com. I hope this helps.
genesis (not verified) - Feb 24 2011
yay! happy birthday love you
morgan (not verified) - Feb 15 2011
How sad is that the company has had so many requests to bring back the 100% cotton jeans for women, the real product that made the Levi name, and the company profitable so many years ago. The market is there and yet the company does nothing. Very sad - what has happened to our country and the companies that use to carry the AMERICAN name with pride because of the quality of the product and CUSTOMER SERVICE. PLEASE BRING BACK THE 100% COTTON JEANS FOR WOMEN!!!!!!!!!!!
Editor's note: Hi Morgan, and thanks for weighing in with your comment. You're right that we need to listen to our consumers -- that's what Levi Strauss did when he invented the first pair of blue jeans, and it's something we've strived to do ever since. As noted elsewhere on this page, we do offer Women's jeans in 100% cotton, including the 501® Boyfriend Cut and the Relaxed Tapered 550™. If the particular store where you shop for Levi's doesn't carry them, I encourage you to ask them to start. In the meantime, you can always find these styles on Levi.com.
Raimundo (not verified) - Feb 11 2011
Acho que esse comentário [mike (not verified) - Jan 30 2011] está referindo-se a calça Levi's de denim índigo (indigo verdadeiro) mais pesado e felpudo que essas de hoje, além de ter dois rebites embutidos em cada bolso traseiro que tinham arcos menos pronunciados que os atuais e tinham ziper. Tive um único jeans Levi's desses, pois naquela época era dificil adquirir Levi's aqui no Brasil. Outros modelos desta época eram um jeans cor areia de sarja cordonada e outra de denim na cor azul bem clarinho, bem mais que estas atuais. Naquela época não tinha essa coisa de desbotados e rasgados e toda essa quimica que tem hoje nos jeans. A que mais se aproxima daquela inesquecivel Levi's é a 505® Original Jeans Shrink-to-Fit Jeans - Indigo.
Editor's note: Thanks, Raimundo, for sharing your insights! For those not versed in Portugese, including me, I've turned to Google's translation tool to do the job. I hope this is close what what Raimund said:
"I think the commenter [Mike (not verified) - Jan 30 2011] is referring to Levi's® denim indigo (indigo true) heavier and shaggy those of today, besides having two rivets embedded in each back pocket that had arches become less pronounced than the current and had zip. I had one of Levi's® jeans, because at that time was difficult to purchase Levi's here in Brazil. Other models of this era were a beige denim jeans and a cordon of denim blue and pale, far more than those today. At that time there was such thing as faded and ripped and all that chemistry that we have today in jeans. The one that comes closest to that unforgettable Levi's® 505® Original is the Jeans Shrink-to-Fit Jeans - Indigo."
sue (not verified) - Feb 09 2011
I disagree with your comment that the demand for stretch jeans is greater than that for 100% cotton. Maybe you are only targeting the teenage market. I am sure you would see your profits increase and popularity return if you would make women's jeans in 100% cotton again so that the adult women who want them and who are the ones with the money to buy them can fill their closets once again. The stretch jeans suck, plain and simple. They bag out after a few hours and they just plain look ugly and cheap.
Editor's note: Hi Sue, and thanks for your comment. Just so you know, we do offer Women's jeans in 100% cotton, including the 501® Boyfriend Cut and the Relaxed Tapered 550™. If you do a search for 100% cotton on Levi.com, you'll see what we have. I hope you're able to find a pair -- or more! -- that works for you.
Nancy (not verified) - Feb 09 2011
I used to live in Levis and I couldn't agree more with other posts -- PLEASE more styles of jeans for women that are 100% cotton! I can't stand stretch jeans. If you sit down for more than a few minutes, you stand up with sagging denim around your butt, like a denim diaper. Charming. Please, please, please give us more non-stretch jeans. While you're at it, slightly flared 100% cotton would be nice.
Tom (not verified) - Feb 06 2011
Levi, thank you so much for recommending the Brooks Brothers line in your October 20th response! I have scoured the internet for hours (possibly days by now) for any kind of Levi's made in the USA only to find tattered second-hand jeans or questionable surplus "dead-stock" ones from overseas retailers. My question: can you tell me why I had to, purely by chance, stumble upon what I was looking for only on this one single page of the entire internet? I mean, shouldn't the made in the USA edition be on the Levi's website, or at least indexed so I can find it when I type "501 made in USA" into google? Just saying, you have thousands, millions, or people looking for these. Thank you!
Editor's note: Hi Tom. You raise a good point. I tried the same search and had what were probably similar results. I'll alert the brand and see if they can alert Brooks Brothers. Also, you may want to check the JCrew site to find other Made in the USA Men's Levi's® jeans.
mike (not verified) - Jan 30 2011
PLEASE! Please make a "CLASSIC" line of 501 Levis using the same quality of denim you used to use in the early 1970's. I'll pay double or more for them. If you can actually have them sewn correctly that would be an extra bonus too. Your current product has sadly slipped on all fronts. It is so different from what I have been wearing all my life. A good pair of Levis is like apple pie on the forth of July...
Editor's note: Hi Mike, and thanks for your comment, seriously! We're constantly working to meet consumer demand and changing preferences. Based on what you say here, may I recommend our 501® Rigid Selvedge? Alternatively, our friends at JCrew offer a Made-in-the-USA 501® that's also pretty sweet. If you try either one, check back in and let us know what you think. Thanks!
Lynn (not verified) - Jan 23 2011
Why can't we have our original 550 relaxed fit jeans in 100% cotton. I have tried the spandex and they stretch out so bad you have to wash them all the time to keep there shape. Additionally, the jeans are a lot thinner which in Minnesota in the winter is not a good feature. I am patching up my old jeans and trying to make them last as long as possible. The boyfriend jeans you mention are not a good sub for a relaxed fit jean and the new 550 with recycled cotton looked used. Why would I want to buy jeans that look like I have already been wearing them for 5 years. I hope Levi's considers going back to all cotton but for now I will be looking for a new brand to wear.
Shelly (not verified) - Jan 21 2011
I am constantly on the search for tight 100% cotton jeans, I hate spandex, it stretches in all the wrong places. Please bring back 100% cotton jeans for women!!!!!!!
Vicky (not verified) - Jan 10 2011
Ive been a loyal consumer of the Levi brand for over 25 years and share the sentiment of a lot of other consumers regarding the spandex and/or limited options in womens cotton jeans. The boyfriend jean is definatley not a suitable option and it is truly a shame when one has to resort to GoodWill or Ebay to find the good old fashion Levi Jeans that we used to love and enjoy. I have spent the last year searching for a comparable option and continue to become more and more frustrated. The one thing I can find is page after page of frustrated women who share the same sentiment. Do a search on the internet, you will see the large maket of women that you have lost. PLEASE bring back the womens cotton 550 jeans... Please would buy several pair. Everyone I know feels the same, and have quite buying or wearing Levi's all together because you have taken our options away and/or limited our choice. We don't all fit into a single mold!
Editor's note: Hi Vicky, and thanks for your comment. I will make sure your message reaches the appropriate folks within Levi's® brand.
Updated note: Good news! I've learned that we do have a new 550™ jean for women in 100% cotton, including recycled cotton fibers. Click here to see them on Levi.com.
penny (not verified) - Jan 09 2011
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE bring back the 100% cotton ladies 512's !!!!!!! They are my favorite, and also the favorite of the man in my life (those jeans look the best on you). I would pay almost anything to see them stocked in stores again!!!!!
Editor's note: Hi Penny. I will let the Levi's® brand folks who make such decisions know how you feel. Thanks for your comment!
Mary Carrol (not verified) - Dec 15 2010
100% cotton Jeans are the best. They age better to last longer. I guess that is why women's jeans have the stretch yarns now- so they look uglier faster. I try to find 100% cotton jeans in thrift stores since that is the only place I can get them. I will try to find the boyfriend jeans that are mentioned above to see what they are like.
Editor's note: Hi Mary, and thanks for your comment. Yes, please check out the 501® Boyfriend cut jeans. But...our cotton spandex blends should not stretch out or lose their shape over time. And all of our product carries a lifetime quality guarantee against manufacturer's defects, so please contact us if this has happened with one of our products so a member of our consumer relations team can help you.
Sad and in need of jeans (not verified) - Dec 07 2010
I totally agree with frustrated consumer. Why are the 100% cotton jeans only available for men?? Many women I know do not like the lower cut spandex jeans that the "younger generation" are wearing, and the "boyfriend" jeans are not a suitable substitute for my old favorites. I guess I will have try to find another jean company :-(
frustrated consumer (not verified) - Nov 22 2010
Dear Levi & Strauss, Please help me to understand why you still continue to make blue jeans with 100% denim for Men and not Women?? What's the deal?? I have worn Levi's my whole life, specifically 512's & 550's. LOVE "EM Now when I go to the store I am saddened by how many times I've wanted a pair of Jeans and cannot find any, Blue or Black. I guess my dilemma is why can't you offer both. Spandex for the tweens and those that like that style and then for us the Classics "denim"? From a marketing standpoint, I cannot figure any losses, in fact I think your bottom line would be even fatter because you are accomodating both the younger generation and the older generation, in which by the way is the very people and market that made you a legacy. SO could you or would you offer that option in the coming future even if it's only a retro-acted promo? Try it, I'm sure you would be surprised and pleased!! I know personally I would be buying 10+ pairs or everything you had in my size but only in 100% Cotton Denim Please !! Thank you.
Editor's note: Hello. I'm really sorry to hear that you're not pleased with the current selection, and I'll share your comment with our merchandising team. In the meantime, you may want to take a look online at our women's selection of 501 Boyfriend cut jeans. We have a few finishes there offered in 100% cotton.
C S (not verified) - Oct 25 2010
I've been buying and wearing Levis for decades. In recent years, I've bought and worn Levis, mostly 512 Slim Fit, made in Lesotho and Mexico. I wasn't happy about buying and wearing Levis made outside the USA, but I understood the economics of globalizaiton and the jeans still seemed like Levis to me. The last few pairs of Levis 512s I ordered looked like they came from a thrift store. Not the cut, but the fabric. The 'pre-distressed' denim felt significantly thinner than previous orders and the jeans looked as if they'd been worn for weeks by someone who hadn't bothered to wash them. I understand that may be the 'look' younger customers want, but it isn't what I want - especially the thinner, less durable, lower quality, shoddy cloth. I returned those Levis . . . and ordered some [another brand] Fortunately, I've since found an online retailer who seems to have a stock of 512 Slim Fits Levis made in Mexico before the advent of the 'cheap-out' cloth (i.e. normal Levi weight denim which looks new, not 'pre-lived-in'). I ordered enough pairs to keep me going for the forseeable future, so what the company does going forward doesn't matter so much to me now. Happy Birthday, indeed! 137 years of consistent quality, then the big sell-out! I think it is called 'riding the brand down' . . .
Editor's note: Thanks for the comment. I'm sorry to hear about your experience with the Levi's® 512™ jeans. No matter where our product is made, our commitment to quality remains the same. If you feel you ever purchase defective product -- whether from a Levi's® brand store or an authorized retailer -- I hope you'll contact our Consumer Relations team. You may do so here or by calling 1-800-USA-LEVI, option 3.
Bill (not verified) - Oct 20 2010
I find it quite sad that the great Levi's name no longer stands for "Made in the USA". Two generations of my family worked for Levi's in Knoxville until Levi's decamped to low cost third world countries to save money on production. This moved was quite distructive to the lives of many people in Knoxville as well as other cities in the U.S. that lost Levi's production facilities. I cannot in good conscience buy your products. I take great pains to go out of my way to find jeans that are made from U.S. woven fabric, and are sewn by U.S. workers. I can only hope that at some point in the near future Levi's will return production to the U.S., where the product was made with pride for well over 100 years.
Editor’s note: Thanks, Bill, for taking the time to comment. The decision that affected your family members — and many others — was a difficult one for the company, driven by the competitive market in which we operate and our increasing number of consumers outside the United States. We do make some of our jeans in the U.S. -- our Brooks Brothers collaboration, for one. And we continue to investigate ways to increase U.S. production and deliver quality product at a price that consumers are willing to pay.
Johnny (not verified) - Aug 14 2010
I've been buying Levis in Australia for nearly 30 years. They may be a little over priced here, but they still have no competition in terms of enduring quality and style. Levis are THE only jeans. Everything else is a pale imitation, or else, denim trouser wannabe's. Overlap stitching on the outside leg?! Thats Wrangler stuff. OK for rodeo riders perhaps, but anathema for anyone with a semblance of 'jeans dignity'. Life's too short to be wearing that kind of thing.
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