Levi’s Head Of Design Explains Why He Updated The Iconic 501

Few pieces of clothing genuinely deserve the title of “icon.” The Levi’s 501 sits right at the top of that very short list. It’s the kind of status that comes with being the flagship style from the brand that invented the modern blue jean. But that doesn’t mean it can’t keep up with the times. Since the first pair of riveted “waist overalls” from Levi’s were given the 501 designation around 1890 (the exact date is lost to history), the jeans have changed significantly. They’ve gained pockets and lost cinches. The fit has expanded and contracted according to the style of the era. They’ve evolved. The most recent step in that evolution was the introduction of the slimmed-down 501CT last year. But now Levi’s head of design Jonathan Cheung and his team have introduced something the 501 has never seen before: stretch denim. Read more at Esquire.