Levi Strauss - The History of Blue Jeans

Levi Strauss invented blue jeans.



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Levi Strauss and Denim Jeans









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Strauss had the canvas made into pants. Miners liked the pants, but complained that they tended to chafe. Levi Strauss substituted a twilled cotton cloth from France called "serge de Nimes," which became known as denim.







The company is privately held by descendants of the family of Levi Strauss. Shares of company stock are not publicly traded. Shares of Levi Strauss Japan K.K., the company's Japanese affiliate, are publicly traded in Japan. (For additional financial information, visit our "News and Financial" section).

The company employs a staff of approximately 8,850 people worldwide, including approximately 1,000 people at its San Francisco, California headquarters.

Levi Strauss & Co. is a worldwide corporation organized into three geographic divisions:

Levi Strauss, North America (LSNA), based in the San Francisco headquarters

Levi Strauss Europe (LSE), based in Brussels

Asia Pacific Division (APD), based in Singapore