The 501® Jean: Stories of an Original | Full Documentary

Levi's® presents The 501® Jean: Stories of an Original, a three-part documentary that celebrates the 501® Jean’s influence on popular culture.

EPISODE 1: WORK
We trace the 501® Jean's roots as a utilitarian garment for coal miners, cowboys, industrial workers, all the way to the creative workers who continue to wear it today.

EPISODE 2: STYLE
For the first time Levi’s® are worn for their look, rather than function. Hollywood stars adopt it for decades and the 501® Jean becomes a style icon: continuing to inspire contemporary designers and style leaders.

EPISODE 3: REBELLION
The 501® Jean is a symbol for countercultures as broad as biker clubs, punk, rap, skateboarding, and art movements. It can be seen on crowds through decades of activism: from beats to hippies, LGBTQ rights protests, to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

NARRATED BY RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOTT
Ramblin' Jack Elliott is one of folk music's most enduring characters. A protege of Woody Guthrie in the late '50s, Elliott has been hailed as an influence on artists from Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, to the Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead.

FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH:
Henry Rollins, John Baldessari, Erin Wasson, Gary Burden, Andy Spade, Mark McNairy, Eddie Huang, Steven Alan, Jim Walrod, Kim Hastreiter, Mel Ottenberg, Scott Schuman, Lee Ranaldo, Darren Romanelli, Greg Chapman, Hal Fischer, Rachel Wang, and MANY, MANY MORE.

ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE:
Ernest Greene (Washed Out) and Squeaky E Clean Productions.

DIRECTOR:
Harry Israelson #levis #levisjeans #levis501

[keithbaker]

Thanks to Levi Strauss & Co. for producing this video. My family was involved in the denim manufacturing industry for many decades, and I worked in a cotton mill from my 16th birthday until I graduated from college six years later. There are still family members and friends working at Mt. Vernon Mill in Trion, Georgia. I enjoy watching this video periodically.

[viper]

Its a shame that a company like Levi's with such an impact on American fashion doesnt even makes its products in the US anymore, what a shame.

[mason]

Ive rewatched this many times through the 2 years its been out, and my god is this a beautiful documentry. It deserves so much more recognition.

[MrLoony]

i can guarantee you all the people at Cone mills are good people!! i know Mike Roberson personally. hes now retired but dosent hesitate to tell us the stories about them coming in to record this video. hes 70 now.

[braziliantvhd]

In 1992, The Washington Post exposed the company’s exploitation of Chinese prison labor to make jeans. Levi Strauss responded by creating a code of labor standards. But when the venerable American brand shifted all of its manufacturing overseas in 2002, laying off thousands of workers, it resorted once again to relying on labor from China, Bangladesh and nearly 50 other countries. Many of these factories, including a Levi Strauss supplier in Durango, Mexico, have been accused of violating the company’s ethical code by not allowing labor organization, forcing workers to work more than 12 hours a day and withholding overtime pay. In 2005, workers fired from the Durango supplier for organizing successfully won their jobs back, with overtime and back pay.

[bradstarzz]

Levi's is a lifestyle to many people. When I wear Levi's, I feel confident, bold & striking. It's the one clothing brand I stand proud of.

[McLovin_]

For decades Levi, Wrangler, and Lee have been the top 3 brands for affordable jeans under $100. I love Wrangler because they always felt the most comfortable and have a rugged cowboy look. I also like Lee as a second choice.

[明-fe]

Those older gentleman have such a beautiful "old time" southern accent, non-rhotic "R" sounds & all, sadly it's dying out very quickly

[stellanevis]

I had a 501 back in high school from my Uncle. Now I have a job I got 9 pairs. I usually stay away from those that feels paper thin. I have 501 CT, 501 Skinny, 505c, 721s. Levi's for life!

[AlexMielnik]

Make them in the U.S.A. again Levi's!!!...and not just the tease with your USA made line...can't ever find my size online :-(

[c.spencer]

I buy all my Levis at good will, salvation army and thrift stores. I have only destroyed one pair in 30 years. best damned jeans for the money.

[drwisdom]

This is a professionally made video, but there is a lot of hearsay like "the 501s communicated gayness". Instead of touting the greatness of Levis 501s we are introduced to many types of edgy people with the hope we will relate to some of them.

I liked the duo who were searching for discarded 1800s Levis in desert mines. But that is because around 1969 I bought my first pair of 501s, that is what I have been wearing since, and I collect vintage 501s. But alas, today's 501s aren't what they used to be. Levis no longer uses the quality fabric documented in this video. Rather, the cheap denim is paper thin and rough like sandpaper. They try to cover that up with pre-fading, sanding, and adding holes. To prevent unraveling, Levis changed over to double-stitching the back pockets over 40 years ago. Knowing today's 501s won't last, Levis went back to single stitching to save thread. In addition, the fit is poor, sizing is inconsistent, many flaws make it through quality control, the price has escalated too much, and 501s can no longer be used for working. Luckily, I have enough pre-2000 US made 501xx jeans to take care of my needs.

Levis needs to get back to its roots instead of continuing to cheapen its product. The first most important thing is to go back to using quality denim. Just because the Red Tab always indicated quality doesn't mean you can stitch a Red Tab on to something and it magically gets quality. 501s were perfected decades ago. Levis doesn't have to figure anything out, all they have to do is duplicate.

I don't remember where, but I once read that back before denim was delivered in huge rolls, it came in rectangles. The edges were finished to prevent unraveling and they included a colored thread to indicate the weight of the fabric. Red was the edge thread color of the heavyweight denim that was used to manufacture 501 jeans. Whereas, this video says the colored thread is there solely to indicate quality.

[royezequielcamargoalba]

Levi's® presents The 501® Jean: are perfect, to all the people...beautiful video, great History

[gauthamxo]

Classics comes out of utility.. LEGENDARY SUCCESS OF LEVI'S. Best denim I've ever used.

[freddaweiss]

First time I saw jeans, I was hooked. When I put them on, I was in heaven. Still wearing'em - lots of 'em. Love my 501s!

[inigojuancarlos]

I always always love Levi’s and no matter how many jeans and denim brands that come out and even though I owned dozens of designer jeans, my loyalty to Levi’s never fade. I’ve been collecting Levi’s for 25 years now mostly vintage.

[aceofspades]

In a USA'ish scale from 0 to 10, this video is 501!

I'm a foreigner, but this video made me feel like saluting people from USA and the passion they have for their History.

Keep going, Levi's! Keep going, USA!

[chuy]

501's my favorite and only Levi's kind of jeans I've ever worn. The fit and softness of the jeans after breaking them in is umatched.

[gmlasam]

I've been wear Levis since I was in grade school, as far as I can remember. It was Levis and Toughskins back then, 60s. So, I've been wear Levis for about 50 years and I have seen the changes with the 501 over the years. In fact, I still have a few pairs of 501s from the 70s and 80s that are in great condition. A few have that red line in the inner leg seams. Back then the 501 shrink to fit jeans were stiff as an iron board when you purchased them and you had to wash them several times in hot water just to get them to fit right. These work clothes back then. They weren't fashion jeans, these were real men jeans. Now, they aren't what they use to be....they are made cheaper, not last as long as what they use to. I bet you will not see levis jeans made today lasting 20 years. They were made in USA... Certainly, not the Levis that I remember from grade school

[ruthmelicharles]

Levis is the absolute best.
I bought a pair in 2008 and it's in perfect condition today. I've gained weight, so it no longer fits, but I can't give it away. I just can't.