Tap to unmute
How Levi's Sells the Same Jeans at Different Prices | Levi's 505 Teardown | Industry Secrets
Embed
- Published on Mar 13, 2026
- Check us out on all socials:
Instagram / Tik Tok: @Shiftfashiongroup
Joe's Instagram: @Joe.ng_
linktr.ee/shif...
Want to work with us?
www.shiftfashi...
#mensfashion #fashion #menswearstylist #fashionstylist #breakdown #unboxing #menswear #americanfashion#fashionbusiness #breakdown #teardown #fabric #fashionhaul #fashiontrends #industryexpert #industrysecrets #review #shift #shiftfashiongroup #levis








Really wish they would do more stuff like this. Tons of people in the fashion content space, but very few actually have the background to comment on garment quality
It's pretty much all they do my guy.
@lf2334bot
@lf2334there’s many people that talk about fashion, I’ve hardly seen any that are this knowledgeable on how clothing is actually produced.
Grab some BraveStar jeans, I guarantee for the price point highest quality jeans you’ll ever see.
So this is the torque test channel for clothing.
Haha. Except, no unnecessary cockiness.
mine's the twerk test channel btw just letting u know
So *this* is how I get recommended these videos? From watching TTC? lol Interesting for sure, just "don't know how I got here".
Here I was thinking it was Project Farm
way too underrated channel
Underrated is the most overused word on youtube..
This channel has nearly 200k subs.
Yeah
Levi's red tags will alternately not say "Levi's" on random pairs of jeans in all runs. One in every certain number of jeans to get tags have a blank red tag with a trademark R on it. This is to establish the red tag itself as a separate trademark, not just the Levi's name on a red tag.
WHAT??
@ChingaTuMagaLevi's is "The Red Tag Brand". Not only are their logos and slogans trademarked, they also protect having a red tag along the stitching as a trademark. Like the shade of pink T Mobil uses is a trademark that can't be used by other cellphone providers. Or how the shape of a bottle can be a trademark identifying the product as coming from Coca-Cola.
@natelevy1040I have a pair and was kind of surprised it doesn’t have a red tag. I guess at $25 you can’t expect much.
Wow that’s actually really interesting!! Thanks for sharing
Yup. I looked this up as well after realizing one of my red tag jeans didn’t say Levi’s, even though I purchased it from a Levi’s store. They’re still legit,but it is a neat peace of Trivia.
I love this. I hope you consider doing a video of some of the popular jeans makers: Levi's, American Eagle, Old Navy, Gap, etc. I'd be very curious how they all stack up against each other in terms of durability and value.
Specifically a comparison between Old Navy gap and banana Republic
Which would be a waste of time considering these companies essentially go for cheaper fabrics. The best denim is not theirs, it's the one made in Japan and used sometimes by Gap (selvedge from Kaihara) or Levi's (they have Japan-only models).
Wrangler have been consistent and last longer than Levi's.
American Eagle Jeans from the early 2010s were incredible quality. I had all pairs I had ever bought until last year when I sold them because I went up a size 😢. They were still basically like new - no pilling or wear in the crotch and no tears on the belt loops
Um, this video WAS about Levi’s….
I just wanted to know more about jeans and now there are rabbit holes
Right there with ya
Even the 501 line is a trip in itself. Mofo has a lot of variations.
Doing this with different Uniqlo jeans would be cool. The U, C line, Selvedge and JWA all feel different to me.
It would be very interesting
They are all around the same price range so it really means nothing? I feel like only the fit is the deciding factor. But who knows.
@Meolbwadefinitely not. The collab lines are limited supply and significantly better quality in my experience. Their mass production stuff is not bad by any means but their limited run collab denim is really nice
If you do a part two please include their black 505. They are RADICALLY different from the blues and I have to fully size up the waist for them
Likely because what he mentioned about shrinkage on the darker pair of jeans (the Levi Standard). When he washed them he said they shrunk a full size, yikes! Guess just have to shop one size up if going dark 🤷♂️
@DrWarBear they don't bleed like the blues though. Its tough to explain but I swear it's like they're a different company
I wish I could remember where I read this, but apparently it’s pretty normal to have to go up a size in black denim, regardless of brand.
I always buy flip inside out wash in cold and hang dry for black Levi’s. Once you find your fit by model and source you just go back in repeat or just buy extra pairs 😆
All jeans fit different
Levi's has more expensive options even, such as the "Made in Japan 505", wish you guys did those as well
The "Japan" seems to be made in Japan, but I'd guess it might also be made of "Japan-denim", which is significantly thicker than most.
I've got some "Joker" jeans (German brand, not cheap but excellent quality) made of Japan-denim. Really good, however you can't wear them (with underwear) when it's rather warm.
@damianm-nordhorn116 Its also the actual true indigo dye that is made is japan. Its an insane process.
My local thrift store is selling used Levi's for $60-$80!!! They are downtown and rent is high, but still. They have a 30ft rack full of them
My local Goodwill has them all day for $10-15
I think it depends on the style also you’re paying for sourcing
@akiko3688 that's donated stuff they get for free. they aren't sourcing shit
Ebay australia sells old australian levi's for like 30USD, RIP the Elizabeth factory
We have a premium Goodwill which collects and sells the better donations and as a result charges more on the "2nd floor" section. There is also a goodwill auction site which goodwill will set aside better items to be auction, you see more for cameras and electronics or known expensive items.
You're like the Rose Anvil for garments and I love it.
Does he also destroy $10,000 boots, and ignore what clock punching drones can afford?
The levi tab without levi written is a common thing. It is because levi’s has a copyright on the red tab so every now en then they need to produce a jeans with only the red tab and R sign to keep their copyright.
Oh
Yeah it's 10% of every line.
Stealth ad for costco. All hail king kirkland
in general, cheaper clothes are better overall value, so i'm not really surprised.
Got my pair for $19 5 years ago and still gottem
NGL I just got a bottle of their bourbon yesterday and it was surprisingly good. I was expecting it to be cooking grade, but after a glass of it neat I think it can throw down with bottles in the $40-50 dollar range no problem.
@Fanta.... May the power of price compel you.
@heres-your-sign its all made by legit brands. I dont drink anymore, but i remember the tequila was good, heads vodka was Grey Goose or something, but I dont know the whiskeys. I had the Canadian whiskey and it tasted as good if not better than Crown. Kirkland branded can be hit or miss, but like you said, i dont think the booze is lol.
The jeanstop line is hilarious.
should do this with the 501's
I had hoped that this was for 501s. I used to wear them exclusively but stopped when they changed the cut. I was pissed when they changed the cut to lower ride skinny jeans.
@longshot7601I just got into 501s. I love the baggy fit of them, especially love the shrink to fit ones. The denim feels super high quality (for the price). I’m curious what you mean that they went skinny?
@DudSkskkdthey changed the 501s in 85 ? They fall off your ass the crotch to the waste got lower I never bought another pair
@longshot7601you ain’t shitting , I bought a pair and they keep falling off my ass . I was pissed also never bought another product from Levi’s I truly hate the company they had a a great product and changed stupid. A friend of mines mother had a pair in her garage from the 40s they were thick as hell beautiful that’s what they should have continued with even if the price was triple people would have bought them.
I thought this was another click bait video about mis guided history on Levi’s. But surprised on well they went through each pair and the information they give on them. I started following this channel now 😂
Same
I am an engineer, I was amazed at how much you saw upon minimal inspection. That's Bangladesh, just from the finishes, amazing. Comes with the long time exposure, I can tell a Chinese bolt from a German one on sight. I knew what a selvage edge is, but did not connect the two until the selvage edge was shown, my pearl of wisdom for the day. I estate and garage sale, I'll look for the edge now. I grew up in Wrangler's , love the fit, never paid more than 23.99 for a pair, no discernable dropoff in quality in 5 decades. Never even try them on. Secondhand, Levi's really dominate. Ngl the Levi's I have are much more varied in fit and feel. Wrangler most days, Levi's for dress up
You get the Walmart Wranglers or from somewhere else?? And which style you like in Wranglers?
@bradbaker4679I have worn wrangler for decades as work jeans because of the durability as I'm a union ironworker and jeans take a beating. I have always bought the 13mwz or the cowboy cut 13mwz with the dark unwashed denim from academy sports and outdoors. The quality has been consistent but still not as good as when they were made in Texas. But definitely good value still and durability has been pretty good.
Truly Lee and wrangler for the win for work pants. Though Levi is very good at quality fashionable styles of denim.
@bradbaker4679mostly Walmart sears when younger
@b@bradbaker4679lmart Wranglers are a thinner material. Target Wranglers are very close to the ones you get at Boot Barn. At half the price.
The paper patch or leather patch is called a jacron i believe.
the red tab label without the Levi’s spelled out,is technically also very special. It’s for trademark purposes, so Levi’s can keep the rights to “red tab” without the Levi’s logo. So no other apparel company can slap on any red tab on their garments. It’s only sewn on every few thousand or hundred pair in the production. And to have it sewn on a selvedge pair makes it even more special. (Which is too bad it was taken apart for this video 😅)
Levis actually has a trademark on any branding tag sewn into a pocket, not just red ones. They also produce tabs in all different colors to maintain this trademark as well.
Nah, this is Levis just not caring. It would be too much labor to inspect each tag. It's much easier to load it into a machine and let it rip. But if you ask Levis they will tell you "Slight differences tells you its authentic" LOL
The Levi's Store in Vancouver is selling most new jeans with the capital E on LEVIS on the back pocket red tab... and even "customizing" jeans that have the lower case version by swapping that for a red tab with the E. Wasn't this capital E meant to help us find which jeans are vintage?
gotta say, they must be making a ton, cuz everytime when I ask for a special tab version, the shops can always provide one, even if it's a made and crafted, I can even get them on t shirts, it's probably not as rare as most people think
@octaviorodriguez5243 I think many new Levi jeans have capital E. But it doesn't really matter anyways cuz you can clearly tell a big E is a vintage by just looking at it
The note about the methodology behind "bald eagles per football field" absolutely took me out! Great work!
8:52 - “send help” 😂
"Send help" 😂😂 another great video team
Dude knows his stuff! I worked in cut, make, and trim once and he knows more than any of the 'designers' and pattern makers at those factories. Great channel - keep up the great work!
Costco 514 for the win!
Thank you for the recs at the end! I didn't know there was actually a difference between them and now know why some of my jeans shrank over time and others stayed the same size and felt loose
What matters to me is the pocket depth. I have sewn replacement pockets into several pairs.
I love 505. It fits so well and classic fit.
Its amazing to see all the Levis jeans.
Here in Pakistan, we can get this same Pakistan made Levis Jeans for under 15$.
A lot of international brands manufacture there denims in Pakistan.
Back in 1980 when buying Levi's, we had to allow for 4" hem shrinkage! It was crazy having to size up so much, and man, the color bled! But they were quality pieces meant to last for years.
It's cool that you mention this because after watching a video about Japanese denim I started buying my Levi's 4 inches longer in the legs and I'm very happy with this. My pants will shrink, but they will never be too short and they remain slightly long enough that I can cuff them too.
Love the graphics and animations. Incredible attention to detail and super informative!
One of your best vids yet, keep it up
Would love to see y’all do this for wrangler jeans
This is quality content, keep it up!
I hope you can review all the famous Japanese selvedge denim brands like Iron Heart, Japan Blue, Studio d'artisan, Momotaro, Samurai and also include Canada's Naked & famous selvedge denim jeans. This for sure will be a banger for all denimheads
Yeah, just don’t cut those up. Have them as a give away.
High quality video and I can tell the depth of knowledge. Very cool!
I love this and would love you guys to continue this. I would love to see a Burberry Trench coat vintage vs current day. I want to know if the current price is worth it or if it’s better to find vintage or maybe even a comparison between Factory product like J Crew, Banana Republic or Polo versus their non Factory counterpart.
I can tell you this without destroying a vintage Burberry trench. The fabric is way sturdier than just about anything made today, including from their own brand. Go vintage but make sure the sizing is right
There is 100% a huge difference between BR/JC outlet and normal retail, i think they were both named in a law suit over it actually
I'll answer that for you without doing any research, the second hand coat will always be a better value that performs better. Very few brands get better as time goes on.
Ive never thought about pants this much before. Very interesting.
I wear my dads 501s from 15 years ago! They still look absolutely beautiful and are hella comfy with no visible wear. They rock!
I would like to see wrangler jeans and Lucky brand vs Orvis shirts.
Would love to see a Polo Ralph Lauren video
Always been my favorite. Everything always just seems to fit right.
I only buy Levi’s, but had no idea there was so much nuance to them! Thanks for making learning fun
Guys, just subbed - love it! Could you tear down a Moncler jacket like you did the Canada Goose one?
I had no idea there was a Rose Anvil-style video for clothing, ill certainly be coming back!
Great graphics throughout.
I am so happy i found this channgel through LTT, insane quality on each video!
The "Jean Stop" logo... 😆
CNBC shared an interview with Levi Strauss & Co.’s CEO, Michelle Gas, in Tokyo a month ago.
It's on YT if interested.
This breakdown is so helpful.
Comparing a brand's specific styles sold in Costco & other retailers could improve the perspective of the brand overall.
It would make it easier to select quality pieces. Hopefully, that results in fewer purchases because we have dialed in what we really need. ♥
That demin covered mattress was really cool.
I remember when Levi’s were made in America. We had a Levi’s factory near where I live. They actually sewed the jeans and cut the denim there. But no more, that factory closed down years ago.
Growing up I heard about how my mom worked in the Levi's factory making jeans. My dad was military so she lived in a few different states. I'm thinking that would have been in the 70s.
They lasted a long time back then, too. You used to have buy them two to three inches larger in the waist and two inches longer than you needed. Then you'd need to wash and dry them about six times to get all the dye out and shrink them up just right After that, you'd break them in. They'd only fail at the knees eventually, which led to all the cool kids walking around with the broken strings at the knees.
Oh I remember when they left the USA, the quality dropped like a hot rock. Bought about 3 pair of the imported products out of habit, they wore out extremely fast and had inconsistent fit. Haven't touched a single product from that shady company since.
(Similar for Converse Chuck Taylor, I still had an old USA pair when the new imports appeared; stitching, glue, sole material, all went right in the trash. Haven't bought a pair since.)
You let CEOs and the rich rule the country and they sold every business to the outside, lock, barrel and stock. Go to any pakistani repair video, observe the mills, lathes, presses and every other big piece of equipment... that's your country's legacy sold and shipped to Asia. If you do enough sleuthing you can actually the very auctions that sold those machines based on years of closure and area. Some of those machines were WW2 era secrets, things that got you directly in jail if they were even so much whispered about. And i mean, sure, one can argue they're old and antiquated but had the CEOs been kept on a tight leash like the dogs they are, those machines would've been kept, along with the business that would've normally just been upgraded... in the country. Now production is barely piddling around on stilts while other countries are booming and production domestically is falling apart or is diverted to AIslop houses (the biggest new thing).
@asertathe Japanese bought the Levi’s selvedge looms.
The leather tag on the back is part of the Premium line. It's not reserved for selvedge.
My grandfather was the person that convinced Levi's to change to paper. He worked for the company that created the leather press that would print on the leather. He suggested a switch to the heavy paper to save money and save the wear and tear on the printing machine.
Do you know what year that was?
How horrible. Cheaper products.
Cool info, but I hate the paper labels. They've worn and ripped off of two of my jeans in the last year. I guess that's the real reason why they want you to wash them less frequently. I wish there was a "patch replacement program".
best channel for me now!
Levi 501 is all I wear for the most part. One year I did get a 501 from their premium line and it was the best pair of jeans I ever had. I just couldn't keep buying them for $300 a piece.
The premium line starts at 98 dollars and they have a 40 percent off right now.
Anyone that pays $300 for a pair of jeans is a nutcase. lmao :D
Привет из Франции,здесь премиум линейка стоит 110, 120, евро.Дерьмо.Только Levi ,Япония, селвидж деним.Остальное всё дерьмо.
Great testing as always. It's getting harder to find made in USA denim since the last mill (cone mills) stopped production here in 2017 so for anyone looking for them, especially selvage, you are only going to have luck looking second hand.
Love this channel!
I am not a fan of the stretch denim. I think it was a mistake for all companies to go towards stretch. I have several pairs of Levis. They do make a quality pair of jeans. They used to make orange tag, black tag, silver tag and red tag. Red was usually the highest quality and orange was the cheapest quality.
Stretch = comfort. I hate a stiff pair of pants or shirts or any clothing for that matter
I'm with you. I grew up with 100% cotton and the newer fabrics feel weird. Thanks for the memory. I forgot they had marketed those other tags. I remember buying silver, but can't remember why?
They want to sell to over 50 year olds and stretch is totally required for those folks...you'll find out, haha
I agree!! Everyone should not be stretching to FIT in jeans 😂😂😂😂😂😂
@lukas______ 100% cotton reaches a super soft level of comfort with just a few washes, you just have to break it in. This gets you both the comfort, the nicer feel of cotton vs. elastane-blend, and much more durability than elastane-blend. If you buy a raw pair of 100% cotton jeans, they come insanely stiff and rigid, but this is a good thing, because it's how you know you're gonna get the most out of the piece of clothing. You wear it, you deal with it, you wash it, it softens, and then by the third or fourth wash it's reaching max softness and will go on to handily beat stretch denim for the rest of the lifespan of the garment. Elastane-cotton blend just doesn't have the same longevity and buying a heavily pre-washed pair of jeans just means they wasted tons of water at the factory reducing the value of what they sold you by taking a year or two off of its lifespan. It's better to tough out that brief period pants spend being stiff, to get a better time with the rest of the lifespan of the garment, than to get something with stretch added or pre-distressed that worsens the entire rest of the lifespan of the garment. One is temporary and the other is permanent.
"So, Bobby wants me to spend a hundred dollars on some idiotic jeans that already look 20 years old... Are kids today so lazy they can't break in a pair of pants?" - Hank Hill
Bald eagles pre football field is exactly why I keep coming back to this channel
I'm disappointed this is not a deep dive video on Sydney Sweeny's jeans /s
Sydney Sweeny ripping her own Levi Jeans would be a cool video though!
I’m hooked! This was fascinating- more videos please!
ive actually never heard "dont wash denim" before. But when i do wash mine (if they are even denim) i do inside out wash and hang dry.
It's fashion BS for people who treat jeans like a wedding dress. Wash yoh dirty pants.
Also, Levi’s has their “premium” line that’s basically right up there with their “selvedge” line
The paper patch on jeanswear was implemented in the 1960's as Jeans were transitioning from less of a utilitarian garment and more into a fashion garment. Traditional leather patches were often too heavy and would shrink in washing and eventually shribble up and become illegible or fall off completely. Paper patches retain their visibility for a longer period.
In the ’70s you could grab a brand-new pair of 501s at surplus stores for next to nothing. They were just tough work jeans back then. You’d buy them two sizes up, wash them a few times to keep the dye from staining your skin and to shrink them down to size. After that, you avoided washing them because you’d have to go through the whole break-in ritual again to get that relaxed fit back.
Then the ’80s hit… Jordache, designer labels, and denim went full fashion. Prices shot up, and the same jeans turned into an expensive fashion statement overnight.
How do you clean denim without washing it?
10:46 the labels for secondhand, standard and selvedge are showing Costco's 514 number instead of 505
For some reason these videos help me sleep lol.
Hmm. I’m a bit dubious about the Costco Levi’s. I’ve owned a pair but fabric was so thin that it ripped apart at the crotch after a few months and had holes on high impact area when doing yard work or walking my dog. I decided to spend the extra money to buy from Levi store when there’s a sale and I’ve worn the same pair jeans for 3-4 years, almost every day. The workwear brand I absolutely love and is under-appreciated is Duluth Trading Company. I only buy during their Black Friday sales but damn good workwear IMHO. They listen to their customers and develop a lot of different work style fits for their jeans and duck style pants. Also I don’t have to pay a premium for the Carhartt logo or tag.
I think Costco sells different 505s. I have the 99% cotton 1% elastane 505s but I've seen ones with less % cotton. Although depending on your usage, more stretch may help the jeans last longer. I prefer 99 or 100% cotton either way.
If you buy from the Levi website they sell at least 2 varieties of many styles as mentioned. Even the same name or number can vary material by color, etc. My limited experience with stretch is that the regular would wear around the seams in the crotch, pockets, and knees. The premium ones are thicker, more durable so far, and cut to a slightly different pattern I think prevents some of the crotch seem wear. At sale prices, the premium are almost twice the cost at $70 compared to $40.
Great video! Always recommend your videos to anyone who cares about material and construction in fashion
I'm in my late 60's and my father would not let me go to school in jeans. Until he drove me to high school one day and saw almost every kid wearing a pair. His father was a tailor and would tell him that only farmers wore jeans. To this day, my father at 92, has still not wore a pair. He did eventually start to wear shorts though.
Awesome video!
Most of this brand's items are made in my home country, Pakistan. These jeans cost about PKR 5000-6000 in Pakistan, which is $17-$20 from the official store, not from local or replica sources. Sometimes they give you a discount also so it can go lower than PKR 5000. Now you can imagine how much they cost to make. I live in Canada, and my cousin works where these items are made. He always gets me this brand's clothes for free when I go to visit my family in my home country.
Absolutely superb
denimhead here. great vid. don't think anyone can ever go wrong with levi's. but i just had to chime in and say you should occasionally wash your denim.
Thank you for recommending that people wash their jeans. I was very surprised when he said people would be upset about washing them. Wear them a few times between washes, sure, but it seems like simple poor hygiene to not wash your clothes. To be fair, I'm not into fashion, but I've never heard anyone say that they shouldn't wash their jeans - not even my dad, who wore Levi's his whole life. I donated over 30 pairs of his 501 shrink-to-fits when he died.
@deanhatescoffee because denim fades as you wear it, plenty of people in the denim community like to go as long as possible before the first wash or just between washes to get higher contrast fades.
there was a study done at the university of alberta almost 15 years ago that showed the amount of bacteria on a pair that worn for 15 months without washing had the same amount of bacteria as a pair worn for about two weeks.
i prefer to wash my jeans more frequently than that (usually at least once a month). levi’s official recommendation is wash every 10 wears.
Solid video. Thx.
I love the channel. You are missing a big one for real jean heads though... the made in Japan, please do a video with them.
Tearing apart some Momotaro or Iron Heart would hurt to see but, for science?
Or a NudieJeans
@shawn12ax7yeah I might shed a tear.
@StonkeyKong Might even be a warcrime. Be prepared for an export ban from Japan.
@shawn12ax7 What do Momotaro and Iron Heart have to do with comparing different price tiers of Levi's?
This is so informative. I always get that weird gap on my back🙃I can't size down
TIL I shouldn't wash my denims as often as I do...
Incredibly detailed analysis. My biggest compliment, "I learned a lot!"
I’d love to see a comparison of Ralph Lauren shirts, maybe an old 80s/90s one, new Polo Ralph Lauren, double RL and Purple Label to compare quality in sub-labels
I have a polo plaid shirt that is nearly 30 years old and the color looks as though it were brand new. Zero wear and zero fading and it's been in the wash countless times.
I’d love to see you guys cover the Levi’s 501 STF
I'm really surprised that the Costco pair did so well, especially for $20.
The supply buyers for costco are very meticulous and Costco serves a huge market so they want to keep the product good
If you’re not supposed to wash your denim how do you get them clean..? Serious question
i see ppl asking this over n over and freaking out about this so thought id clarify as a levis girl since jr hi! its not that u shood NEVER wash denim its more wash when necessary guidelines. i never use hot water always gentle cycle n low dryer heat cuz well i dont like putting on crisp jeans! i like em a lil worn in 😊 i kno ppl who wear em to their desk job n wash em evrytime... hard effen no! u hang those bad boys up to air out... fold em put em away the next day. oooor just always hang ur jeans. now if u wrastling hogs n cattle on the daily... please lawd wash em! and for all the folks out there like eeeww grosss... u wear underwear right? those u wash aftr evry wear! n if u got swass so bad ur levis r rank... u got bigger issues than whether or not u shood wash or not wash 😂
Thank you , your videos are so insightful
There is so much production variation in Levi's sizing that if you take three pairs of the same exact style off the shelf (as I always do) there will be a noticable difference in fit. This is why I never buy them online.
I’ve only found that true when they have different washes. I bought three 517’s they are all exactly the same.
TLDR is Costco rules
the paper patch, to my knowledge, was just an added means to cut costs. at least in it's original application.
I love your channel, and I'm definitely excited about this video!
I wash my Levi's about once a month I have pairs that have lasted 10 years love the durable and functional and comfortable of Levi's other brands are definitely not the same especially after a year but Levi's fit is better than most other brands
How do you keep them from smelling? As a women I typically can only go 2 days with a pair.
@DakodaS246 I think you should wash yourself more often and change your underwear every day.
Could you please do a review of Momotaro Japanese jeans and tshirt please
As a certified selvedge FREAK, I can tell you that pre-washed made in Bangladesh selvedge Levi's are only appealing to people who know selvedge freaks.
Generally, if you're willing to upspend on selvedge denim, you are looking for character in that denim, character which is lost due to the artificial wear "washing" process. Selvedge heads will typically prefer a raw (non-prewashed) or one-wash denim, as it allows the denim to fade according to their wearing habits and lifestyle. These Levi's exist to take their friends' money for a cheap product.
Hot tip: the best way to get pre-washed selvedge is to buy used vintage pairs from the 90s or before. Most jeans were selvedge back in the day, so they're not significantly more expensive like newer selvedge, and they were sold raw, but the wear and wash that previous owner did will look 100% more convincing than a $20-$100 of "distressed" mall jeans.
You can also buy Japanese selvedge denim fabric for a great price (in the US at least) and make your own jeans.
Just buy new pants and wash them and wear them and over time they will become “salvage”. (Not “selvedge”, don’t know why he’s pronouncing it like that).
@josephsmith594 that's not what selvedge means
@josephsmith594he’s pronouncing it like that because it’s self-edged
@josephsmith594 Sir I'm starting to suspect you didn't found the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but rather the moron church.
I love getting levis 2nd hand in the thrift shop, it feels more comft/softer
"YoU ShUdNt wAsH DeNiM!!!!" is the moment you know someone leads a 99% indoors sheltered-ass low-stress life. If you don't generate enough ass sweat to need to wash your jeans your opinion means nothing.
Anyone who never washes their clothes , needs sectioning. There's no way, anyone could lead a normal life, without getting dust, drinks, foods, and everyday dirt and grime on their jeans. Not to mention how out of shape they would go after years and years of not washing! Utterly ridiculous! 😂
@jonntischnabeleveryone washes their denim, the debate is how often.
@xjunkxyrdxdog89 The debate is an idiot. I have ten year old shit-tier Walmart jeans that are just fine despite being washed hundreds of times. These weirdos act like the mere act of putting something in water causes it to deteriorate like it drank from a false Grail.
Wash them, just buy more. It’s disgusting not washing your clothes or yourselves.
@sct4040Josh Le A University of Alberta student discovered that after wearing the same jeans daily, for 15 months without washing, there was no harmful bacteria.
Wash your jeans when theyre dirty.
For most people, theyre not dirty from one wear.
This was really interesting. I have very limited experience in the technical side of fashion and found this quite educational. Thanks!
I remember, in the 80s and 90s, discovering that Levi's had a 100% lifetime Guarantee.... If you mailed them a ratty old pair of their jeans, they would mail you back a brand new pair.
I used to buy junk jeans from thrift stores and exchange em all the time..... I, and everyone I knew, had head-to-toe new Levi's.
Funny how these days that ratty old pair is the peak of cool, while the new pair is mediocre at best
That’s why the program no longer exists… it was meant to be your own worn out jeans. Being proud of cheating the system is rather cringe. 😕
@Bambisgf77 #NotIt
@ClintonAllenAnderson She's right. You kids today lead such soft, pampered lives that you'll never have opportunity to distress your own jeans naturally, so you buy the pre-distressed stuff as an act of blue-collar stolen valor.
Excellent content!
05:42 No one took the time to mention it, but this is so accurate and makes me feel like a professional is thinking realistically. For example, lots of brands produce shoddy clothes and call everything user error. I don't care what the story of denim is today; we like to overwash clothes and use everything out of their purpose. Those giants and designers know that as well, so they should just produce them that way. But they like to do planned obsolescence, which is sad. As a person born in the early 2000s, I was blessed to wear my brother's 90s overly designed, overquality clothes-everything from trousers to denim to shoes. They were thick, strong, hard, non-synthetic clothes. Even in old family videos and photos, everyone looks so elegant, so cool, like everyone's clothes were worth combining. Old denims had those screaching shuffling rçattling hard noise they where hard yet comfy yet undestructable as a child standing on my knees felt like it was padded for example my mom and dad used to shorten my brothers denims by cuting and sewing thats how i know
You guys should check out some of the Sitka outdoor gear. Like their fanatic coat, flannels, or pants.
Even though I don't buy most of the products featured in these videos, I still watch every single one because I know I will always learn something new and interesting. Keep up the great work guys!
bruhhhhh. counterfeiting your own product is mad accurate.
People don't wash their jeans? That's gross as hell, man 😷
Yep. Look into selvedge denim groups or forums. Those people who tries to achieve a high contrast fade on their japanese selvedge denim wash their denim once or twice a year. But again it boils down to each personal preference and what character you want to achieve with your denim
There is probably a crossover of people who don't wash there legs when showering.
I just learned this😮😮😮 so many questions 🤢🤢🤢
It's actually not. You rarely need to wash them for most people.
@ripman21you could use your argument for not changing your underwear 😮.
I wish you compared the premium and Japanese made Levis to these.
Best Levi's were a thick dark indigo workwear style I got at a Levi Store. I could not find any for sale online anywhere, and if you still look right now they are not available anymore. They were Heavy Thick Durable which I wish was the standard compared to the modern stretchy skinny jeans.
They still sell dark blue jeans
These were the only pair that fit me correctly. They discontinued them two to three years ago. It’s a shame because they are great. I’m down to my last pair because I actually use them for work.
good job as always. I'm going to for the costco version at the thrift store