While most of us probably believe blue jeans were ‘invented’ in the United States, world history tells us the oldest jean-like pair of pants surfaced in India in the 16th Century.  Worn by sailors in the city of Dhunga, soon these rugged trousers came to be known as Dungarees.  Made of denim, a highly durable cotton fabric, this textile was developed in France, in the town of “Nimes,” and became known as “de Nimes.”

In the 1800’s, blue jeans gained incredible popularity in this country when a gentleman named Levi Strauss arrived in San Francisco from New York and began selling the sturdy pants to miners and prospectors as work clothes. Originally made of sailcloth and canvas, he began using denim when his customers complained of chafing.  In 1873, he began using stitching and was given the patent for an improved, riveted jean.  It wasn’t until 1936 that the famous red tab was added to the left back pocket as a way to identify them from far away. This iconic trademark is now an enduring symbol of Americana.

Today, tens of millions of pairs of jeans (on average we each now own 7 pairs!) are sold each year and are part of the fabric (pun intended) of our culture.  Actor and Hollywood legend James Dean wore them in Rebel with a Cause after which jeans became a symbol that era’s rebellious youth. In the 1950s, blue jeans were actually banned from schools, movie theaters and restaurants because society determined they were “disruptive.”  In the 1960s jeans continued to grow in popularity and symbolized the on-going societal and cultural changes.

And speaking of change, in 1880 the first pair of Levi’s cost $1.25.  Today, a pair of 501s will set you back anywhere from $64 to $98 a pair.