Levi's were introduced as functional work pants in the 1870s. What made Levi's different from the traditional work pants of the time were the metal rivets that held the denim work pants together. Today, Levi Strauss is one the most iconic brands in American fashion….but are Levi's made in the USA?
ARE LEVI'S MADE IN THE USA?
The first Levi Strauss manufacturing facility opened in San Francisco, California in 1873. In the early 1980s, the Levi Strauss company had 63 manufacturing plants in the USA. In 2002, six of the last remaining eight facilities in the USA were closed. The last Levi Strauss factories, which were both located in San Antonio, Texas, closed their doors in 2003. The company sourced out production of a limited edition American-made line to a local denim factory for a brief time in the 2010s. Currently, there are no Levi clothing items manufactured in the USA.
The demand for cheap and mass produced clothing has led to the outsourcing of Levi's.
Made in USA Alternatives to Levi's
Levi's aren't made in the USA any more, but we found these made in the USA alternatives.
Dearborn Denim Boot Cut Jeans for women are designed, cut, and sewn in Chicago. The Mary fit (which is pictured here) is high-rise and in dark wash.
Dearborn Denim has classic jeans for men too, all made in the USA.
Founded in 2002, Todd Shelton is an American menswear brand headquartered ten miles outside of NYC, in East Rutherford, NJ. All products are manufactured in-house in the company’s NJ headquarters. Todd Shelton does not wholesale and is not sold in stores.
Todd Shelton's Pro Original jeans are all cotton with a zip fly. The salvage denim is sourced from Japan and the jeans are cut and sewn in the USA.
This All American Clothing Co. classic denim jacket is union made in the USA. It has a full button front and button cuffs and is 100% cotton denim.
This Fly Away classic denim jacket has chest-flap pockets and a slightly cropped, boxy shape. It is army green and made with stretch denim. Made in Los Angeles.
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This news is upsetting.
I had no idea that Levi’s aren’t made in the USA any more. Sad. They’ve been a go-to for years.