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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 :-(

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.

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!

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.

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

I've been wearing Levi's jeans for more than 3 decades and their company motto is really true that their "quality never goes out of style"...

I wear 501 everywhere. Office, Clubs, Wedding... name it, its there. I really want one during teenage years but couldn’t afford one back then, so its like a sweet revenge to working my ass off and putting 501 on it and be proud of it

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.

I have been a 501 guy since the first jeans I bought back in 1980. Yet the last pair of true Made In USA 501s I found was in New-York City in 1998. The film doesn't mention that. I wonder what those employees think or it.

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.

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.

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!

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

Have LOVED Levi’s since my first pair over 50 years ago!! Yes, I’m a woman but LOVE the fit and feel of the men’s jeans! Have never worn a pair out but have “outgrown “ a few😂

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.

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.

3:32... had no idea miners liked short Jean shorts. Some things never change.

From 6th grade all the way through senior year of high school I wore 501s every day except one day I wore Levi corduroys. I felt strange in those cords that day and went back to the 501s.

"I don't know how they got stylish, but somehow they did." -John Baldessari, Artistic Genius

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

Still one of my favorites… still got a great pair in my closet now. I’m 58 tomorrow.

I’ve bought my very first in its entirety 501 today. It’s been 50yrs that I’m trying them on first time. Just needed to check out the whole fuss.

My son just bought his first pair of Levi 501s. He wears them proudly as he too was born in San Francisco, CA. A perfect match!

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!

0:06 "If you just go somewhere and sit down, you're not going to last long. You'll just fade away." I can confirm this, I sat down yesterday and ever since then I've been a ghost... Someone help.

i have not wore 501 since the 80s ,i just seen a pair on eBay and bought them,and i have to say i forgot how good they really are ,Iam back to my 501 again

Thank you all of you to produce these videos 😊

I bought my first pair of 501's with my first salary at 16. I'm still buying them at 77.

I love 501s.I just got some retro 1873 type jeans and I love them.

I have about 25 pairs of 501s, 5 pairs of 510s, 10 pairs of 511s, 4 pairs of 512s and a few misalliances ie computer pants ect.......... And many levi jacket, t shirts ect...... I love Levi's

I love Levi's

In Dec of 2017 the Cone Mill shut down. All of these people are now without work undoubtedly and one of the most important parts of longitudinal American Culture and Clothing Culture around the world is now dead because no-one, stepped up to save the most critically important denim maker perhaps in the world but certainly in the US. It is truly a sad time for that community and for all of us who have worn and repsected the history of denim, the actual daily use of it and the love and care that these American Workers in this American Textile factory have given their lives to. Its a goddamn shame is what it is.

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

As someone who spends every day striving to deliver clients world class content, this is a high water mark.

I would love to like them, wore them in the 80's but for a slim guy the 501s are just too boxy and baggy. I look like a dork in them. I prefer the 511s. What I love about Levi's is the red tab on the right back pocket. I generally hate brand tags but that red tab is just so cool.

Here's a fun story Im half iranian half iraqi yet born and raised in the south of iraq ( south is south everywhere u go so we're just a different type of middle eastern southerners ) Anyway, 2017/20 years old me was sick of em super slim jeans that everybody wears round here, even old people lol, i was looking for a loose heavy jeans going through many stores until i found a piece that the shop owner told me it was sent to him by mistake and it was a levi's 501R W32-L34 i tried it and i fell in love with it, i asked the guy how much for that one and he was like well just gimme 10 thousand dinars ( $8.26 back then ) And today i got 2 pairs from turkey ( for $125 ) cause thats how ive been getting ma 501s as one guy opened a fake shop here in BTS( Basra Times Square Mall) and called it levi's and a month later the place was shut down

Boy to see Henry Rollins in a Levi's doc. That's something special.

The 501 has always been my number one Jean, since I was a kid!!!! Please start making them again here in the USA!!!! And at an affordable price. I miss that little tag that says made in the USA!!!!! I love my 501 blues!!!!

Levi has such a wonderful history, it's a shame they don't live up to it. I can credit Levi with being the brand that finally frustrated me into giving up on store bought clothing. I was disgusted with how quickly my jeans fell apart.

Wearing 501s since 1961. I look better in my 501s than most guys look in a suit.

Last pair of Levi's 501s I bought were made in Pakistan and lasted 18 months. I usually wore these jeans to a coffee shop to edit documents and short trips to the market. In other words, I didn't put hard wear on them, and they didn't last.

I love Levis' 501 so much. I only wear Levi's jeans.

Timeless never go out of fashion! Always buy levis.

I've collected so many Levi's jackets and jeans over the past year! love the brand and dim only 17!

I only wear Levi's.

You guys need to bring your production back to the states, I'm not even concerned about the quality, I've never had ANY problems with quality control post-globalization. I just would love to own a pair made in the US that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to buy. We're all rooting for you.

I’d love to see a day in the life of a worker from a Levi factory… hopefully they are being treated okay

Vj Kesh you made me tear up. Levi’s! Levi’s! You gotta walk in the Levi’s! Like so much of us agree, I do!! They are magic. I would say it’s the classic garment of humanity. That’ll be proved in time. Mark my words. Well take em to the stars with us. Space Cowboy 🤠

'An expert knows all the answers-- if you ask the right questions." Levi Strauss (( Feb 26, 1829~*~Sep 26, 1902))

I bought my 501's because of Salvia Eric!

I had never owned a pair of Levi’s until the last few years and now I wear nothing but Levi jeans.

we are proud work at levis :)

Just ordered my 1947 501 vintage Levis. Cant wait for them to come

Bought my Levi's 501 in the Levi's store western Europe, says Made in Turkey...... Still I love my 501 the one and only!

Back in the late 1970's the Regency Square Mall was built and opened in Florence ,Alabama. During the late 1970's thru all the 1990's I bought most all my clothes from Castner Knott's. They'd run their straight leg, zipper Levi Jeans for $12.99, all made in the U.S.A. and I bought so many pairs from$12.99 too. Eventually the sale price rose to $15.99. When I got old I bought Docker Jeans from J.C. Penney's on sale in that same mall. Docker's was a Levi brand. They no longer make the pleated front Docker Blue Jeans.

7:44 "all classics were born out of utility" ❤❤ pretty much sums it up

I have been wearing them since 2010, and my wardrobe has more than a score! have recycled them to make so many more cool stuff :) God bless the makers!

Ok, im a fan now. great doc. spoke to me.

Always greatest productions! You are amazing Levi's

would like to see 20 or 30 minutes on those boys going down the mines looking for denim.

I love Levis !!!!!

After World War II. and 6 years at a Russian prison camp granddad finally came home. They received some aid shipments from the USA with a pair of jeans. Someone told him that people wear jeans in the US prisons too and for that reason he never wore them anymore. They ended up as oil rags. Every time he told this story he said he wore prison pants for 6 years, he won't wear them again.

Just ordered a pair of 1955 501s. I’m a 31 so I went with a 32; so excited for the pants to come in. When they do arrive I’ll give details.

my favorite jeans Levi's

My favourite jeans

I love my Levis. They've been places and done stuff.

What a great film. Well done, guys!

Big respect to Levi's 501 is my one and only denim jeans 👍 Regards from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

My dad give me he 501 jeans and he tells me that 501 is almost 30 year old. I am proud to wear the 501 because the quality and history!

I AM FROM INDIA 🇮🇳 I obsessed with LEVI'S jeans since 1977 when I was in School. My favorite No. Are 517,527, 501 I like high rise jeans. Now I am 59 yeats old I only buys LEVI'S jeans Iloved 👖 LEVI'S. 😊

I love this Documentary. It was really well done and covers all aspects of what makes the 501 so unique. Now here's a thought, how about making a Documentary on the 505 and how it fused with the rise of Rock and Roll in the 1970s?

That golden gentleman's handshake "... bring it back .❤❤❤👣🕊🌎🗽🦅 Caint go wrong ? They told the story !❤

the original and still the BEST

best jeans ever made

Levi's will always be better than any other denim companies

Please bring back the 505 C.i love those jeans. it fits perfectly when you wear and no need for alteration

I'm in love with this brand. Typically 511 jeans.

501s and vans for life.

Honestly I wear all kinds of pants Khakis Dress Pants Chinos Suits etc but when I do wear jeans I wear 501's I also recently bought a pair 541 and they look pretty awesome on me. But I'm far from being a Jeans and Tshirt guy I guess i'm more casual and dressy.

You dont wear Levi's you live in them

Been wearing levi's for over 50 years now. That's the only brand of jeans i know, never tried any other brand, and still have no intention of changing brand. I may be missing something for not trying any other brands but that's ok. 😅

I love my Levi's so much I live in them, all I wear is Levi's pair them with my Chelsea's and boom!! feel like a rock star, but for a slim guy like me 501's are just too big I have a runner physique so the 511's just fit me the best.

All my jeans are Levi's. I only wear 501 & 505 type. Proud and Respect from Indonesia.

Only Levi's! 👍🏻 with love from Siberia,Altay

There are just those brands

Levi's never goes out of style, levi's live long

I buy my 501 at second hand stores. The old ones only. Such a shame Levis did not keep up with the quality they used to produce.

Amazing video. Absolutely amazing. Great story

When it comes to jeans, Levi's is the best and always the right choice!

Aw, all the love...and you shut them down.

Lovely documentary. It would be such a good move to make a line made in the USA.

Love my 501's, There're like no other jeans in the world. Made to adapt to the individual's body type - self tailoring jeans. These classic - timeless - babies can be worn for unlimited use, time & place , and gets only better time and wear characteristically *

RIP White Oak! I bought a pair last year just to keep. Seemed a bit less ridiculous than buying a roll of denim as a souvenir...

It's a shame Conemills is shutting down.I have a lot of respect for the people working there for years. I'm from The Netherlands and I just bought me a rigid pair of 501 Conemills made denim from the LVC line. It's the best.

This is the best freaking video i've ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!