January 2012

Friday 27 January 2012

How to identified Levi's 501 Original

Steps to identified Levi's 501 Original

Step 1

Check the buttons. Levi's manufactured in the mid-1970s and prior will have a single digit stamped onto them. Newer versions (as well as fake ones) have three digits stamped on the buttons. The most popular numbers on vintage versions are 2, 5, 6 and the letter W. New Levi's have "501" or "555" stamped on them.

Step 2
Look at the rivets. Older styles from the mid-1960s to the 1980s feature flat silver rivets with L.S.&CO-S.F. indented on them. Newer styles feature aluminum or copper rivets with circular patterns and L.S.&CO-S.F. indented on them. The circular patterns on the rivets are a sure sign that the Levi's are relatively new.

Step 3
The vintage Levi's red tab.
Check the red tab. This is a small red fabric tag that has "Levi's" written in white in all caps. Prior to 1971 the "e" in Levi's was capitalized and referred to as the "big E." After 1971, the "e" was written in lower case while the other letters were left capitalized.

Step 4
Read the care tags. They first appeared on Levi's in the 1970s. The tags from 1970 to 1985 were plain white with dark blue writing and contained an instruction that read "Shrinks about 10%." Newer jeans (after 1985) have care tags that are white with red writing and the Levi's logo placed prominently at the top. The older versions do not have a Levi's logo on the care tags.

Step 5
Inspect the inseam and back pockets. The style of inseam on almost all Levi's before the mid-1980s featured a single felled inseam, which is a single stitch running down the inner thigh. The back pockets on vintage Levi's have a very pronounced arcuate design. An arcuate is denoted by two wide arcs joined together in the middle, similar to the top part of a traditional heart shape. On newer Levi's the arcs are much more shallow.

Step 6
Check for bar tacks at the corners of the pockets. Bar tacks are a method of sewing that involves using extra thread to reinforce a thicker fabric such as denim. Levi's that contain bar tacks on the corner pockets are at least 20 years old and may be even older.

Model Levis 501XX Rigid

Model Levis 501XX Rigid
Product Highlights:
# Quintessentia l Anti-Fit
# Button Fly
# Original Fit
# Sits at Waist
# Classic Seat and Thigh
# Straight Leg
# 17 1/4" Leg Opening
# 100% cotton, 12.5oz
# Levi's reg; Red Tab™ Jeans by Levi Strauss & Co.

HOW TO BUY SHRINK TO FIT RIGID JEANS
If your Waist     is: 27" to 36" then add    1"
If your Waist      is 38"   to 46" then add    2"
If your Length   is 26" to 34" then add      3"
If your Length    is 36" and Up   then add   4"
(just a guide - ask seller for more info)

How to Find the Right Size for 501 Levi's Jeans

Most people are used to buying their jeans in a specific size and length such as "8 petite" or "Men's Large". These are not like that - you need to have your actual waist and inseam measurements in inches to know which size to select.

Since 501® Button-Flys are "shrink-to-fit" they need to be purchased at a larger size than actual inches for the waist and inseam. They will shrink approximately 10%, but instead of having to pull out a calculator and figure it out there is a post on the Fashion .

Applicable to Jeans made with Unwashed Unfinished Denim. The Shrinkage Rate might vary slightly between garments, especially with Vintage and Vintage Reproduction garments. Any alterations (including leg lenght alterations) are not recommended Until Shrinkage Is Complete.
(just a guide - ask the seller for more info)

Levi's 501 SHRINK-To-FIT Jeans Shrinkage Guide
IF YOUR WAIST IS	INCREASE SIZE BY
27" (Inches) - 36" (Inches)	1" (Inch)
38" - 48	2"
50" and UP	3"
IF YOUR INSEAM IS:	INCREASE SIZE BY:
27" (Inches) - 34" (Inches)	3" (Inches)
36" and UP	4"
Levi's Vintage Collection Deadstock Jeans Shrinkage Guide
IF YOUR WAIST IS:	INCREASE SIZE BY:
27" (Inches) - 36" (Inches)	2" (Inches)
38" - 48"	3"
IF YOUR INSEAM IS:	INCREASE SIZE BY:
27" (Inches) - 34" (Inches)	3" (Inches)
36" and UP	4"

Original Levi's 501

WHY YOU MUST BUY ORIGINAL LEVI'S 501?

Globally, Levi's jeans is the most copied jeans in the world. It is perceived to have high quality jeans, the material is very good. It also has higher resale value. It is a commodity. Even after wearing for long, if you want to sell it, you can sell at higher price than when you bought it. The longer you hold the jeans, the higher the price, because its considered vintage.

And why imported jeans? They have high quality control. you can see in them (the european), they are the kind of person who is so fussy, looking into much unnecessary detail and decoration. They pay much attention to details. When compared to the Asian, they are different in the mentality.That's why imitation comes from another countries which didn't pay much attention to details, and that's why the price is cheap and the material is not valuable and has no resale value.

You must learn how to appreciate the authentic Levi's 501 jeans.

Identify Vintage Levi's

many asked on How to identify vintage Levi's

No matter if you're here to find a pair of 501's® or if you're just interested in finding out more about them, there is probably something on this page that will interest you.

How to Identify Vintage Levis

Levi's are a popular brand of jeans created by Levi Strauss and his partner, Jacob Davis, in the early 1870s. Originally worn by miners, the blue jeans quickly became a popular fashion item throughout the 20th century. Today, blue jeans are worn by people of all ages, and from all walks of life. Vintage Levi's are coveted and pricey items of clothing due to their age and historical significance. The term "vintage" refers to articles of clothing that are at least 25 to 30 years old. Levi's manufactured prior to the 1980s would be considered vintage.

About Levis 501® Button-Fly Jeans
Levis 501's are still the favorites of many people today (including myself), and even though they have lasting power and are very comfortable they are quite reasonably price

Vintage Levi's Guide - Buttons

here has also been a lot of questions regarding stamping on the back of the top buttons.
As a rule, jeans with a single stamped digit (2, 5, 6, W) for example are older than jeans with a 3 digit stamping on the top
of the button. Common 3 digit stampings are 524, 558, 555,554.

- Jeans with single digit or no digit stamping are made from mid 70's back, and are possibly big E
- Authentic Big E non-reproduction jeans will have either no or a single stamped digit.
- Reproductions will normally be stamped '555'
- Newer Levis and fakes will be stamped '501'
- Japanese Made Levis will have a 'J' followed by a couple of digits '21'

Era: 1870 ~ 1873 period. The hand stitched top-buttons used in the duck cloth work overalls

Era: 1873 ~ 1890 period.
The most basic type of metal buttons used in the Levis 125 model waist overall in 1873.
note the recessed button center which differs from more modern jeans

Era: 1930 ~ 1941 period, 1945-Modern Peroid.
The donut core was filled and molded into a solid heart top button for the 501XX series. Levis decided to include it's country of origin, and thus, " * S . F CAL * " was inserted in together with the other characters. This button is the father of the modern button used currently.

Era: 1987 ~ Current
There are two versions of this top button. Available in both Silver and Copper, the " * " which was used as a spacer was replaced with " . " instead. The silver color top button were use mainly on jeans while the copper version appeared on 505 series of jeans and jackets. Copper buttons never appear on 501 model jeans.