The holidays are a time for giving — and for Levi’s® fans, there’s no better gift than Levi’s® denim. Over the years, some of these fans have given me another special gift: their favorite Levi’s® holiday memory. Today, I’m passing their gifts on to you.
From heartfelt presents to creative traditions, these stories from our Archives show how Levi’s® has been woven into holiday memories across decades and continents.
A Gift Card and Two 501® jeans (Phoenix, Arizona) 
Levi’s® fan Kim Arendt remembers the holidays of 1988 vividly. Her husband had given her a $100 gift card, and she knew exactly what she would spend it on: Levi’s® denim. “I bought two pairs [of 501® jeans] at Miller’s Outpost in Phoenix during the holidays,” she shared.
Kim’s new Levi’s® jeans quickly became favorites. “I only have one pair left, and I can still fit into them! The knees are ripped, the legs faded, but they’re so well made I can’t let them go,” she said.
For Kim, Levi’s® 501® jeans remain a symbol of durability and timeless style.
Angela’s Best Gift (London)
London TV company employee Angela O. still treasures the memory of her first Levi’s® jeans. “I will never forget getting my first pair when I was 12 years old — still my best Christmas present ever!” she shared.
For Angela, the gift marked the start of a lifelong love for Levi’s®, and she continues to reach for Levi’s® years later.
A Present Built to Last (West Yorkshire, England)
In 1979, Tim Hargreaves received a pair of Levi’s® for Feet shoes as a Christmas gift for a school ski trip to Italy. Introduced in 1975, Levi’s® for Feet featured 12 styles, including one in denim.
Tim’s pair has lasted over 40 years, surviving home renovations and countless repairs. “They’re missing rivets, and I’ve nailed the soles back on, but you can still see the orange tab. They’re still going strong!”
Renato’s Holiday Lesson (New York) 
Italian immigrant Renato Bartoli learned the power of Levi’s® one holiday season in the 1970s. Preparing for a trip home, a relative called with a request: “Could you bring Levi’s®?”
Levi’s® jeans were at the top of Christmas wish lists for his family in Italy — a reminder that Levi’s® has always been more than denim; it’s a global symbol of style.
A Levi’s® Christmas Card (Santa Cruz, California)
In 1964, retired tailor Larry Reightor created a holiday greeting like no other: 50 miniature jeans with tiny cards tucked into the waistbands and Levi’s® tabs stitched to the back pocket. To get the cards just right, Larry reached out to Levi Strauss & Co. who supplied him with the tabs.
The story resurfaced in 2019 when Jessie Durant, Archivist for the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, found a newspaper clipping about Larry that she shared with the Levi’s® Archives.
Today, Larry’s creative gesture remains one of the most unique Levi’s® spins on a holiday tradition.
