History Loves Fashion

Can we take a little walk down memory lane? We’re here with all the looks that made Lamy’s so special and led to where we are now. We will start in the 1800s. After all, that is where the magic happened. Next week, we will walk you through the 1900s (spoiler alert–jeans for women are here) and we will end our series in our current decade. That’s where we feel this building truly shines!

1829 was an infamous year since Levi Strauss, himself, was born! Levi was born in Buttenheim, Bavaria on February 26, 1829, to Hirsch Strauss and his second wife, Rebecca Haas Strauss; Levi had three older brothers and three older sisters.

Two years after his father succumbed to tuberculosis in 1846, Levi and his sisters emigrated to New York, where they were met by his two older brothers who owned a NYC-based wholesale dry goods business called “J. Strauss Brother & Co.” Levi soon began to learn the trade himself.

1853- Levi Strauss and Co is founded! After working with his brothers in their dry goods wholesale business in New York City, Levi emigrates to Gold Rush San Francisco. He opens his own dry goods business to serve the small general stores of the American West.

1873-Blue Jeans are BORN! Levi Strauss & Co. and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for an “Improvement in Fastening Pocket-Openings.” By adding metal rivets to work pants, which would be known as blue jeans, they created stronger pants for working men.

1886- The two-horse trademark was born! The Two Horse Trademark depicts two horses attempting to pull apart a pair of Levi’s® waist overalls. The logo symbolized the strength of the clothing in the face of competition.

See you next week to explore the 1900s of Levis. Tell a friend about our blog. After all, history loves company.