Denim faithfully reproduced from historical archives.
1987 | TOKYO, JAPAN | Unknown

Levi's is, of course, the world's oldest denim brand .

Levi's Vintage Clothing is a line that started in the late 1980s as a Levi's Japan project, when the concept of vintage denim began to gain popularity. More precisely, it was initially called Vintage Levi's. At first, this line appealed only to Japanese vintage denim enthusiasts, but as the appeal of vintage clothing became known worldwide, it expanded beyond Japan to include reproductions of European designs. By the late 1990s, Levi's Vintage Clothing was recognized by denim lovers all over the world.

Currently, Levi's is reproducing everything from denim pants that symbolize each era, including the 501, which has evolved over time from the wartime model to the XX and 66 models, to denim jackets, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. From the fabric, such as the XX denim with red selvedge, to the silhouette, and even the fine details such as hidden rivets and Talon zippers, they are faithfully reproduced by referring to the vast archives that Levi's keeps at its San Francisco headquarters.

The item featured this time is the 501ZXX, a reproduction of the 501 from around 1954, when zipper flies began to become widely popular. It uses red selvedge denim from Cone Mills, also known as red selvedge denim, and has a straight silhouette with a slightly tapered hem. This model incorporates many elements found in vintage Levi's, such as the cowhide patch and hidden rivets on the back pockets.

Levi's Vintage Clothing uses Shrink-to-Fit denim, meaning it hasn't been pre-shrunk, so caution is advised when purchasing it in its unwashed state. You should expect a 32-inch pair to shrink by around 3 inches, but this is part of what makes it so appealing to vintage enthusiasts. Incidentally, the Cone Mills White Oak factory in the US, which produced Levi's Vintage Clothing's red selvedge denim, closed at the end of 2017, so prices are expected to rise in the future.