The Levi’s 501 jean is an archetype, the jean that all jeans sprang from. Levi’s Vintage Collection does a fantastic job of producing faithful reproductions of the 501 from the defining moments of its history. From the introduction of belt loops in the 1933 501 to the abandonment of the suspender buttons in 1937, to the painted Arcuate and loss of the chinch on the 1944 to the more modern, recognisable cut of the 1947. Each iteration marks an important step in the development if the 501 and indeed in the history of jeans themselves. The changes reflect the history of the time period, technological changes, fashion, practicality and social status. However, there is one jean in the 501 family that tends to get overlooked and it could be argued that it is the most authentic of all 501s. Namely the humble Red Tab 501 shrink-to-fit jean.
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