The Hype and Legacy of Vintage Levi's
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- čas přidán 9. 02. 2021
- The influence of Levi's cannot be overstated. One of the most beloved products ever made, the Levi's 501 set the scene for denim's takeover of the 20th century and fashion. And all of this started with the OGs, the original vintage Levi's- how they were made and the differences of each decade have created a whole culture of collectors and resellers attempting to pick up the best / coolest /rarest pairs. In today's episode I talk to vintage resellers, I take a look at multiple rare pairs and try to explore how long vintage Levi's will remain a powerful force in fashion.
A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who helped with this video -
@unsoundrags / unsoundrags
@damagedglitter / damagedglitter
@tiredlaundry / tiredlaundry
@oldclothesarecool / oldclothesarecool
@fromthepast / fromthepast
Check out @DayJones and @lucasmoney for their complimentary Vintage Levi's videos.
Stay tuned as I plan on releasing the Fernando interview from this episode (mostly) in full next week.
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#vintagelevis - Jak na to + styl
A lot of people don’t know that evisu started as a levi’s bootlegger even going as far as calling their company levi’s. The story goes that when levi’s hit them with a cease and desist they tried to change it to the japanese way of pronouncing levi’s “levisu” and when that wasn’t allowed they just chopped off the L making evisu.
never heard this wow
This blows my mind!!!!
Hmmmmmmmm
Yep so true …. I wear evisu and red monkey
Despite Levi’s 501 and other similar styles being timeless, I think it is undeniable that a significant amount of these jeans being purchased are purely due to trend and they’ll wind back up in circulation even faster than the original owners had parted ways with them.
Dude it’s been almost 5 straight years I’ve seen vintage Levi’s trending in LA. This isn’t something new in my opinion. I think it’s here to stay.
It’s impossible to get tired of a perfect fitting pair of vintage 501s. It’s like your favorite hoodie, it will be in the rotation until it falls apart.
impressing being 150 years old and still trendy.
Which is great for us who wear and repair the same pair of 501's we bought 5+ years ago due to fading potential. I've got 3 pairs of 2002 501 shrink to fits that I've been wearing in circulation since freshman year of college that I bought at a flea market for $1.00 each. These trend chasers don't know what they're missing.
The orange tab Levi's were the lower end budget priced Levis - like "Signature" Levis sold at Walmart. The Levis with red tabs, like 501s, were their premium jeans. Levis stopped making red-line selvedge jeans in 1983. The best Levi's 501s were made from 1993-1999. That period had the best fit and used the best cotton. I have been wearing 501s since the late 1960s and have a collection that would shock the young people in this video.
I don't care about 501's cultural significance or the current fad of jeans style. Vintage 501s have always fit my body better than any other jeans or pair of pants (maybe it is the button fly) and they were readily available at a reasonable price. The cotton of vintage 501s feels great against my skin while newer Levi's use sand paper rough and paper thin cotton, the worst I have ever come across. Most Levi's are now pre-faded to hide the inferiority of the cotton. Levis messed up the fit of modern 501s - they are now for heavier people and too loose. I won't wear modern 501s, they are making Mr. Strauss roll over in his grave.
Except for those I wear, I keep my Levis in Rubbermaid bins. They will last indefinitely the way I store them. Back in the 1990s I was at a Sears that had a huge wall of 501xx jeans for $21 a pair. I said they will never be better or cheaper and bought a couple dozen. They are still new with tags and as good as the day I bought them.
At 13:58 speaker says: "Have jeans ever not been in style?"
Are you kidding me? When I was a kid back in the 1960s (and before that) jeans were viewed as work wear and a negative indicator. You weren't supposed to wear them in public. Many establishments like restaurants wouldn't let you in if you were wearing jeans! That is one of the reasons young people wore them. It was a counter cultural statement like having long hair, which was also a no-no. The speaker's question makes me wonder if a future young person will say "has marijuana ever not been legal?"
This is coming from someone who collects and sells vintage Levis
Recommended resell prices for made in the USA Levis
Pre 70s (Big E and Transitional)- $350 and Up
Redline Early 70s (Single Stitch)- $150-250
Redline Late 70s/Early 80s- $80-$150 (my personal favorite)
70s 501, 505, 517, etc- $50-75
80s 501, 505, 517, etc- $25-50
2000s/90s 501, 505, etc- $25-35 (best value)
This is very fair pricing based on what market value is. Do your research.
I buy most of my Levis from eBay, Depop, Etsy online and various curated vintage stores in NYC.
Levi’s remind me of Bapestas. There’s a group of people who refuse to buy new Bapestas and swear against the new ones. In the vintage Levi’s world, people hunt for ‘Big E’ and orange tab Levi’s and refuse to buy new Levi’s or anything not >20 years old
We need a vintage carhartt video next..also I lost it when you said "they are telling me my car warranty is up"
I didn't know until walked in this shop in Harajuku that sold for $400+ vintage Levi's. My mind was blown when I found out there's an entire subculture for vintage American goods there.
Come to the Pasadena rosebowl flea market every 2nd Sunday, Japanese vintage collectors hot off a plane from Japan are fighting over Levi’s at 4am spending thousands in cash it’s been a hot thing since the mid 1980s. If you’ve never seen it it’s hard to fathom. I sold a pair outta the back of my truck for 1000 bucks the guy had no hesitation and a stack of fresh hundreds a inch or two thick.
Levi's has their own Secondhand shop online, lots of verified vintage and won't be disappointed
Great video, I loved the splicing of all the interviews, worked very well to communicate the information
Levis as a brand has had such a rich history and cultural presence that levi's and jeans can be used interchangeably. I love the information that you presented in this video and can't wait for what else is to come! Denim has been one of my favorite materials for a long time now and understanding the cultural impact of levi's has existed and sustained for literally centuries. Much love :)
The resell values and repro's prices in Japan is crazy.
I love your long form videos christian!! please do continue to consider projects like this, I will support
Wow loving the increase in quality In your videos!
Fantastic video. I really liked the interviews and editing.
Man, wish I had held onto my old pairs when they became as warn as the ones you are featuring (I’m 59 years old).
Love it! There's nothing like finding that perfectly worn pair of Levis at the thrift!
I appreciate the work that you put into your videos ❤️
the one we've all been waiting for !! such a great watch bro killed it
Appreciate it Kyron - wish it was more concise but u had a lot of fun talking to everyone to make this + I’m like a Levi’s pro at this point 😎
I really like that your videos are more about discussing fashion than rampant consumerism. You don't necessarily encourage your viewers to buy the different pieces you're talking about, which I really appreciate. Keep up the great work
this was genuinely so good
Love to see the other content creators!
Lol Fernando's excuse for jacking up prices is that "it's hard to keep track of which one is which?"
I’m in the school of people who enjoy the Japanese brands trying to keep alive the legacy and the quality of the original Levis. Rather than buy a pair of vintage 501’s, I’d buy some Iron Heart 634’s. They would have all the quality’s that people look for in vintage Levis, except for the wear which I’m ok with because I’d rather have the fading and wear all done by myself. In the end I value creating my own story in my jeans with their own wear and tear. Who knows, they could be the next decades vintage.
ur videos keep getting better
You’re great mate. Thought this was going to be a huge channel when I finished the video.
This video deserves more viewes! Great work, you just gained a subscriber🙌
This was a good video. Nice to switch up the regular format from time to time with some interviews! :)
great vid man, loved it
love this video, and again thank you for including me Christian! 🥂
Look at the levi 501 93' very affordable compared to what these resellers are charging.
release the all of the interviews, really loved this video
the ultimate levis video, thank you professor
Congrats on the validation!! 🥳 huge
awesome video Christian keep up the good work
I just clicked on the video, but this is perfect timing, just a few minutes ago I was re watching the made and crafted video, and I was like "I wonder if he will post the vintage levis video he mention" and here it is!
Back to back videos, i like
They really go crazy over 501s and 505s and the little sums on dem pants called 'flared' denim.
This has value for people who has passion for vintage quality.
I have 5-6 pairs from 50’s-80’s
My best is Lee 101 selvage 50’s new with tag that will cost $5,000 today
deserves to go viral
Awesome video! I think something that is often not realized is that these pairs of vintage denim are absolutely 1 of 1. No one pair will be the exact same and not to mention they have absolutely no elastic/elastane in them. This makes it so they are extremely durable and higher quality. As a seller myself it’s something everyone looks to buy.
Levis literally can’t make them the same quality.
They sold the mills to Japan.
I’m lucky my dad bought me a 501(red tag) and 505(orange tag) Levi Both are made in the US from Ebay when I wore it for the first time it was really tight but it makes my butt look good 😂 after wearing a few times it got loosen a little bit but the denim fading is so pretty and unique
The joys of finding a “Big E” out in the trenches. I came across some “Big E” Bell Bottoms from the lates 60’s/ early 70’s that I will keep forever
Thrifted?
@@myster__e Yeeeezzzirr
Hope this vintage levis will guide people to selvedge denim. While a higher price than regular jeans ($150-$400) you get the highest contrast fades and top notch quality
6:47 mama i made it 😭😭🔥🔥🔥
Great vid! I just bought a pair of redlines which is def a grail for me.
See, that's exactly why I'm here now to begin with...💁🏻 I'm doing my research on vintage Levi's and trying to figure out what I need...💯✔ I'm currently trying to get myself a vintage Levi's trucker jacket and a pair of vintage Levi's pants👖to wear with it...👌🏼
Masterpiece
doing a bunch of interview is very cool, both to illustrate the variety of opinions and for topics you might not be an authority on. sometimes videos can ask a question rather than answer it, good video!
Im hype for this
Made in USA are near impossible to find where I am so the next best for me are the made in UK ones. Quality is great and they are pretty vintage
Didn’t realize they had made jeans in the UK. I’m sure the quality is pretty high all things considered
@@BraveNewWear was back in 80s possibly going into 90s. The denim is nice and thick.
top notch video!
Cool to see the fashion difference in levi's in us in comparison to eu. In eu we pay €80 for a new pair of 501s and at least €40 for a vintage one
Where did you get your jacket from?
Hello Christian once again, awesome video. Before watching this video, I thought that Levis were cheap and trash because everyone has it and therefore it is not worth investing in compared to other designer brands with more unique silhouettes. Moreover, I do not like wearing blue denim because people tend to think I brought them off from H&M or Cotton On (both Fast Fashion brands which I do not wish to be associated with). In my country, denim is associated to these brands, thus my distaste for denim.
That being said, after viewing this video, I cannot deny the influence of the 501s on a global scale, and that as a garment it is timeless. While it is something I would consider donning in other countries, I admittedly would still stay away from denim due to the perceptions toward it in my country.
This guy is a genius
I wrote a whole analytical essay on the creation of Levi’s/levi Strauss/ the 501. It’s an excellent thing to research, there’s tons of cool details
Hey, would you be willing to share the essay, interested on your thoughts on the topic
@@robertdavid1221 I’d love to share it, I’m going to post the link in my next comment, please don’t edit anything though haha. Enjoy!
I recently got back into jeans as dress pants (when paired with dress shirts) with dark wash and clean design. Interestingly my "higher end" Banana Republic jeans has the exact same styling as my Rustlers jeans including no back pocket stitch design. I am now into vintage Levi's because it is an iconic brand but fails today when the American jeans are made everywhere but America. Now I can't be too picky on a budget but did pick up 505 made in Egypt so I am going to stick with countries that are more interesting (less common) than China and India. I am wearing a small e orange tab no # made in Canada, but the care tag says 34 once but on the other side says 16 in the corner, the pockets are shorter than I am used to so they may be female jeans or at least unisex (this is my first medium wash). Hunting for a pair of 501s now.
Random q: What are your thoughts on capsule collections? In general and also on brands like Vetta that have like multi-purpose pieces. I'd be interested to see a video from you on this...I feel like I struggle with utilitarianism as it intersects with fashion and creativity.
With the amount of instagram people buying into vintage levi's/carhartt/lee/etc. i'm starting to think a whole new generation of denimheads is going to emerge. that and half of them are just gonna jump onto something else.
thank you professor cc nice wyatts may we get a video on men's jewelry thyyx
I work at Levis main headquarters UK.. Interesting video
I still have a Levi's T-shirt I bought in 1995...
great video
some of the modern stuff also has the big E label
¡Yesssir!
Jesus christ this video is amazing.
This is a W
vintage levis do stand the test of time but wranglers too tho
Wrangles underrated af fr
that’s a fact and a half
Yessir
I remember wanting a pair of vintage 505 & 501 Levi's years ago, but sadly they never fit me right. they're never high waisted enough for me ( jeans MUST go over my bellybutton) and always fit me weird? Personally I have better luck with thrifted Lee jeans 🤷🏽♀️
Kia Phillips you need the women’s 501’s. The style numbers are 17501, 18501, 26501. They also made women’s 505 with similar style numbers. 550’s are higher waist as well. Except the 550’s have a tapered leg rather than straight. I discovered the women’s 501 at the thrift for only $6.99 and they fit so good. I look for juniors or women’s sizes. I have a 30” waist and fit size 10, 11 and 12. Check the actual waist measurement. It differs depending on year and how it was washed.
@@IamErikaW omg thank you! I was unaware that they made women's 501s & 505s I thought they were unisex but I will keep an eye out for these now. Thanks for the sizing tips as well!
I like the fit of 501s made between 1993-1999 because they have a lower waist line. If you go back to the 1983-1990 period they will maybe satisfy your need of going over your bellybutton. Levi's did make 501s for women but they didn't sell many so they are very rare.
"pick out all the good ones that you don't have to sift through" - thanks im sure thats hard work and worth the price tag of 100+ vs 15
I mean as someone who sifts through eBay for my own benefit there is definitely a value add. Whether that brings you from like 25-40 to 110 or whatever depends on how you value your own time.
@@anachronismic I buy from ebay 24 7 and would never spend like over 45 to 50 for a pair. It takes like 15 mins to find a nice pair
@@jasperthekid3447 as fernando said there’s a clear benefit to the consumer of a curation of pieces of a specific aesthetic in one place and that adds value, buying on eBay etc can be difficult for someone who doesn’t know exactly what to look for and terms to use to find vintage pairs. There’s thousands of listings under “vintage Levi’s” it’s easy when you know what to look for and what your doing
@@jasperthekid3447 for sure, you are not the target demographic of those sites. But you probably have built up a certain amount of knowledge on how to spot "good things" so to speak, which means you spent time leading that. Some people would rather use their time not scanning eBay for the deal or learning how to spot the high quality shit.
@@jasperthekid3447 and I say that as someone who spends a good amount of time scanning eBay. You are maybe undervaluing the time investment you have put in /are putting in the cost equation. Or maybe you're just not picking denim of the same quality but that's probably not the case.
Dope video... Some times I look at this guy and realize this might be Steve Buscemi son...😳😳😳
😳😳😳(I wish then I’d be set for life)
I hear a lot of people say such and such vintage item is taxed * proceeds to explain in detail how he’s taxing it *
Still waiting on that video request ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️
Brave New Wear whoa I thought for months it's called Brave New Year what wrong with me
when you already follow or shop at the sellers shouted out
i feel like it's really simple; everyone needs some jeans, and why wouldn't you want a vintage pair when it's well known even to people /outside/ of the space that you're getting a better quality product? plus, you get the BONUS of having a well-worn, unique piece of history while you're at it.
“Another one”
People who buy vintage levi's want a part of that heritage, yes. But what's bothered me is that they don't really embody (?) That heritage. I get so many recommended instagram profiles of bloggers wearing selvedge or vintage denim but like.... Why? Those are work clothes, and you aren't wearing them to work In.
Honestly you can wear whatever you want, bless you if you do, but something seems very rose-tinted and fake about trying to capture the legacy of work wear when you don't really work.
In that long hair photo he actually kinda looks like huxley
I think wranglers are just as good for half the price but also harder to find.
First Last, true. Wrangler also currently makes a much better product than Levi’s now produces. The denim does have a different feel because it has broken/zig zag twill and Levi’s uses right hand twill.
I got a call today too saying my warranty on my car was about to expire too, what? Can someone explain bc this can’t be a coincidence 😳
Hey! I’m the owner of @fromthepast. Loved the video and the conversation, thanks again for reaching out.
I’m more a Lee rider guy …. I also wear evisu and red monkey ….Wrangler broken twills denims are one of the softest ….but I do have a Japanese reproduction of a 1940s Levi’s
The Levi’s video to end all Levi’s videos
Anyone know what levi's 501 student are?
Same thing as regular 501’s just slimmer in the hips
omg its fernando omg its fernando omg fernando
Peep my cameo at 7:03
Anything Made in USA have value in ‘ second hand’ market
I'm wondering if heavyweight denim (18+ oz) will be the next hottest thing
People forget how trendy RRL and LVC was before they went full high rise booty smelling vintawge
No doubt friend
I have two pairs of orange tab 505 and they are like Bible paper, every wear they fall apart a little more 😅
Reece Hobbs I may be wrong, but the orange tabs I have come across seem to be made of inferior materials. But I have only seen the 90’s versions.
I own two pairs of orange tab Levis from the 90s. They came in as new old stock with tags and stickers stil on them. The fabric definitely feels different than red tab ones from that era but still they have uncommon good quality especially if you compare them to new modern levis. The fabric feels much more thicker und durable. One of them is a pair of black 550 and I wear them quite regularly for 3 years or so and they hold up quite well to this day.The only drawback I see is that the dark colour starts to fade a bit.
Levi's final exam
As a reseller with obliviousness-syndrome this helps a lot. The doctors gave me all sorts of meds for the obliviousness but nothing seems to be helping. Now Im thinking of all the nice pairs of 501s Ive passed over it the last month lmao T_T
I find it interesting that people are willing to pay so much for vintage Levis and even though one half of me feels that vintage resellers are negatively increasing the price, I can't hate on it because they really do take the time out to curate the jeans and the demand for them is so high that the price justifies itself
TBH new Levi’s are fine by me.
Is this alternate universe Drew Gooden?
I'm a french collector I have had 20+ redlines and 5 big e's Now I sold most of them just have 5 redlines left and wear 3 of them. The first time I put my legs in a 70s selvedge 501 it was nothing compared to a modern pair of pants ! I think people in Western World had the time and money to do the stuffs originally (think about french moleskine workwear or military items). we lost quality with globalization and increase of population plus the fact that clothes have become disposable.
nice hunting jacket
External validation 😂
If he gets rick it's all over
My pair of work Levi’s feel more like sweats than a pair of jeans if you are just getting on this ur a bit late