Levi’s Heads to Japan for a High-End New Collection

Like many relationships, the one between Japan and Levi’s began unremarkably enough. Just a bunch of American G.I.s off-loading their old Levi’s 501s in the Japanese marketplace. It was right after WWII and supplies were scarce, so what better item to trade for than a durable piece of workwear? But then, just as it happened in America, the 501 soaked into Japan’s cultural bloodstream. It became more than just workwear. It became something that spoke to a younger generation looking to break free from the traditional confines of their parents’ way of dressing. Read more at Esquire.