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Lee Japan 101Z 1952 - Dry
Lee first used zippers (or the "Whizit" as they termed it) in their overalls in 1928. They were the first company to use in their blue jeans (or iron branded cowboy pants).
These zip fly jeans from Lee Japan are a stitch for stitch recreation of 1952 Lee 101Z jeans.
Exactly the same jeans that James Dean wore in Rebel without a Cause and Giant. Also worn by countless other outsiders from Jackson Pollock to Bob Dylan.
Made of hard wearing 13¾oz denim, these beautiful jeans are made with the finest attention to detail. Iron branded cowhide patch, heavy brass zipper, sewn with copper and yellow thread. On the inside of the waistband, there is black central patch which at this time had gold and red embroidered lettering. There is famous black Lee label on the back pocket. Of course, it is missing the R trade mark sign that appeared from the 60s onwards.
The riveted front pockets have heavy boat sail cloth pocket bags and the back pockets are half lined with the same cloth.. The famous Lee shield pockets are cut slimmer than the earlier Lee jeans. The inside seam leg is double stitched (another Lee innovation) for extra strength and the jeans can been turned up at the bottom to reveal the outside seam with single sided ecru selvage denim.
Of course, the hems are heavily chained stitched - something can only be achieved using old American Sewing machines.