Levi Strauss and His World Changing Invention

837 Words2 Pages

Levi Strauss and His World Changing Invention
“Levi”, when most people hear that name they think of blue jeans, but most people don’t know the story of Levi Strauss; one of the most iconic blue jean producers around the world. Levi Strauss invented the first pair of blue jeans, he was one of the most innovative inventors of the Nineteenth century who took advantage of a situation he saw, and his idea and invention is still important today.
May 20, 1873 was the day a patent from the U.S. was issued allowing Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis to place rivets on work pants for the first time (Our Story). The idea to place rivets on jeans first came from Jacob. He was going to patent the idea himself, but his wife told him not to waste the money again. So he sold the idea to Levi and received sixty-eight dollars for it (Our Story). This was an important step for work pants because when the gold miner would put diamonds or gold nuggets in their pockets they would tear the seam (Henry, Taitz 60). Placing rivets on the pockets helped to keep them sturdy. Also the pants had a policy with them reading “It’s no use they can’t be ripped,” which they rarely did (Our Story). The rivets were placed where the seams meet so it reinforced the seams of the pocket preventing them from tearing away from the pants. At this time interest in the gold rush was growing and many men greatly appreciated the riveted pockets because they did not have to spend more money to continually buy new pants. Levis’ pants were the most widely used pants in California in the 1880s. For many years the pants were continuously used by working men in the field such as for the gold rush.
Before Levi Strauss invented blue jeans in California he lived in Bavaria, a small village ...

... middle of paper ...

...blue jeans. He was one of the most innovative inventors of the Nineteenth century who took advantage of a situation he saw. Levi Strauss‘s invention is still important today. Levi Strauss and Co. is one of the biggest businesses that is still 99.8% owned by family members. Although Levi never married, twelve years before his death in 1902 he had handed over the company to nephews; Jacob, Sigmund, Louis and Abraham allowing them to run the business (Henry, Taitz 74). Levi Plaza is the number one jean manufacturer in the world with over thirty-five thousand people it still maintains it reputation for quality workmanship. They also still donate money to charities in which Levi donated to such as the Jewish church in San Francisco (Henry, Taitz 112). Levi Strauss is an example for the whole world that even if you start out small you can rise to the top and succeed.

More about Levi Strauss and His World Changing Invention

Open Document