Levi's® 501ZXX® 1954 - RIGID (Deadstock US made Cone Mills Denim)

The Levi’s® Vintage Clothing 1954 501® Jean was originally released as the “501® Z,” and represents Levi’s® expansion into new territory. In the mid-1950s, Levi’s® started selling its trademark 501® Jeans on the East Coast. Up to this point, Western states had been the primary sales region since the jeans first came about in 1873, and there the garment had grown a loyal following. East Coasters, however, were largely unfamiliar with this button fly work pant. To make it more approachable for new wearers, Levi’s® introduced a new version. They took the original 501® Shrink-to-Fit™ Jean, replaced the classic button fly with a zipper, and named it the “501® Z.” It retained all the other details loved by longtime wearers: the famed silhouette, rivets and tough-but-flexible denim. Retailers began providing customers with both options—the 501® Jean and its zippered brother, the 501® Z. Today Levi’s® has recreated the latter, to help tell their story of the 501® and its evolution through the decades. This jean is made with selvedge denim from Cone® Mills of North Carolina—a Levi’s® brand partner for over 100 years.

On December 31st 2017 Cone Mills White Oak Plant closed its doors for the last time spelling the end of an era for US denim and in particular US denim for Levi's®. Cone Mills has supplied Levi's® since 1915 when a handshake agreement made them exclusive suppliers of XX denim for their 501’s®. Levi's® Vintage Clothing has now used up all remaining stock of Cone Mills denim so are now using Japanese denim. They have also moved production from the US to Turkey (where a lot of regular Levi's® range is already made). There will be no more US-made US denim Levis anytime soon if ever. These jeans we offer really are the last of an icon, when they are gone they are gone.