Made in…?

Jeans are a truly global product. Strictly speaking, this was true back when they were invented during the 19th century. They began their triumphant march in California, where gold miners put their faith in this tremendously robust trouser material. Textile dealer Levi Strauss, who had emigrated from Germany, was increasingly successful at selling the material. The rivet-reinforced seams and pockets, which give jeans their present look, were added later. That idea came from a tailor who had come from Russia and was working with Strauss. The city of Genoa, or more precisely its French form, Gênes, is thought to have lent its name to the trousers. A robust material had been developed there in the Middle Ages and was reportedly dyed a shade of blue typical of jeans. Weavers in Nîmes, France, embraced the material and created the standard fabric, so it’s no surprise that the term jeans denim has its origin in the place names Gênes and Nîmes. Jeans have become one of the world’s most popular clothing items. Producers in many different countries work together to make them, though the various jeans labels naturally turn to entirely different suppliers, weavers and stitchers. Germany’s Friedrich Ebert Foundation has identified eight countries that participate in the production of this fashion mainstay. In its example, starting with the cotton fields of Kazakhstan, producers on three continents play a role in making jeans like those hanging or lying in nearly everyone’s closet.

A Global Journey in the Name of Jeans