Levi’s Recreates Dissatisfied Customer’s Jeans From Over A Century Ago For Sale
Image via Levi’s
Levi Strauss & Co is weaving a century-old tale into a special edition that tells of its durability, at the same time celebrating the 150th anniversary of the iconic 501 jeans.
In 1920, a hard-working Arizona miner named Homer Campbell made an unusual request to Levi Strauss & Co. After wearing his Levi’s 501 jeans for six days a week for three years in the demanding conditions of the mines, he sought to cash in on the company’s unique promise: “A New Pair Free if They Rip.” The garments, a testament to the rugged work and harsh environment, were heavily patched, stitched, and modified to withstand daily wear and tear.
Campbell’s jeans had transformed significantly from when he first purchased them. Originally weighing about a pound and a half, the jeans had become nearly four times heavier, laden with repairs and modifications. Campbell had added a tool pocket on the right back thigh for convenience, stitched up the cuffs for better fit, and replaced lost buttons. Every Sunday was the only day he would switch out of them, reflecting the jeans’ central role in his daily life.
When Campbell returned his jeans, they became the first pair ever sent back to Levi’s under its guarantee.
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This pair of jeans, bearing the scars and stories of Campbell’s laborious life, is more than just fabric and thread; it represents a tangible narrative of early 20th-century working-class America. Now housed in the Levi’s Archives, they have been displayed internationally, including at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and an art museum in Bonn, Germany.
Levi’s Vintage Clothing’s homage to these historic jeans, the 1917 Homer Campbell 501, is a stitch-for-stitch reproduction of the original pair. This limited edition replicates the unique adjustments and wear patterns, featuring a boxy, straight-leg fit that sits high on the waist, with exposed rivet back pockets and a center-back cinch.
Images via Levi’s
Images via Levi’s
Crafted with premium Japanese denim and sporting a medium indigo wash, the jeans exhibit a well-worn look, complete with tattered parts, embodying a century of history.
Images via Levi’s
Adding to the authenticity, each pair comes in an antique-style parcel postmarked from Arizona and dated 1920, accompanied by a copy of Campbell’s original letter to Levi Strauss & Co.
Images via Levi’s
Levi’s has created only 250 pieces of these historical 1917 Homer Campbell 501 jeans, each priced at US$895. The collector’s pair is available for purchase on the brand’s website, app, and in select Levi’s stores, offering a scrap of Americana and a wearable piece of history.
[via Hypebeast, Sourcing Journal, Levi’s, images via Levi’s]
