Levi Strauss Birthday

Today, 26^th of February, marks 190^th birthday of Levi Strauss – the man, who invented blue jeans, creator of the Levi’s brand!

A man, who played a huge role in modern clothing style and in fashion industry, generally. His creation – Jeans are nowadays an integral part of our everyday lives and style. Innovator. Businessman. Philanthropist. – these are the words frequently used to describe Levi Straus!

To celebrate his birthday, Dressup Group presents several interesting facts from the life of Mr. Strauss.

Family and first steps

• Originally Jewish, Levi (Loeb) Strauss was born on 26^th of February, 1829 to Hirsch Strauss and his wife, Rebecca Haas Strauss in Buttenehim, Bavaria.
• In 1846, Levi, accompanied by his mother and two sisters, leaves Germany & moves to New York. The start of his business affairs in the US takes places right at this place.
• Levi was named Leob Strauss originally, until he change his name to “Levi” in 1850, after his move to the US. The name, which is the bases of the brand name Levi’s.
• In 1853, Levi Strauss became an American citizen. During the same year, after new risen opportunities, he moved to the west and started dry goods business in San Francisco as well.

THE PERFECT MATCH

• Partnership of Levi Strauss and tailor, Jacob davis is considered one of the most successful ones in history. May 20, 1873 marked an historic day: the birth of the blue jean. It was on that day, that Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis obtained a U.S. patent on the process of putting rivets in men’s work pants for the very first time. This marked the beginning for mass production of Blue Jeans. Nowadays, this day is celebrated as the birthday of Blue Jeans all over the world.

GIVING BACK

• Strauss was also a great philanthropist, contributing to the Pacific Hebrew Orphan Asylum and Home, the Eureka Benevolent Society and the Hebrew Board of Relief, as well as funding 28 scholarships to the University of California, Berkeley. Much of this support has continued to this day.