Dockers - For that Professional Casual LookWritten by Johann Erickson
When Levi Strauss began manufacturing riveted pants we now call “jeans” in 1870s, they were originally made from a material then known as “jean”, a cotton, linen and/or wool blend material that had evolved somewhat since it was imported to America in late 1700s. But demand for tougher, and longer lasting pants is what made his company switch to true denim, which has always been a cotton blend. The first Levis were stuff of working men, hard riding cowboys, and served many who worked in jobs that were hard on their clothes.
But original material jean, (which some people think is origin of name for casual denim pants) was still around. So were pants and other clothing made from Genoan weave. Jean was worn by men who could afford a slightly better cloth that had lasting quality, and which looked nicer. It wasn’t quite dress-up material, but came very close.
Levi Strauss continued to manufacture their trademarked jeans well into 21st century, when other companies began challenging for a share of market. The Strauss company then began expanding its product line, and in a flashback to success of 1800s, brought out its Dockers line of pants, striking a medium comfort zone between their casual jeans and suit or dress pants.
Today, Dockers produces a full range of mens and womens pants, along with a new line of shoes, belts and accessories.
Dockers Mens Pants
Industry watchers estimate that up to three-quarters of American men have at least one pair of Dockers khaki pants in their closet, and it’s easy to see why. Dockers Mens Classic Fit pants come in pleated khaki, khaki pleated and cuffed, flat front khaki, pleated khaki for big and tall, and flat front khaki for big and tall. The clean lines and detailed tailoring, offer a dressed-up and dressed down look that will take you almost anywhere. And to complete a really snappy outfit, you can pair them with Dockers Essential Mens Polo Shirt, or Dockers Mens Essential Twill Shirt.
| | Levis Jeans - An American TraditionWritten by Johann Erickson
They’re lean, they’re mean, they’re original 501 Levis Jeans. And material, if not actual pants, has been around for over 200 years.
There is great debate over where heart and soul of Levis jeans, denim material, came from. General theory says that it was named for a material first made in France around end of 1700s, and known as serge de Nimes. But problem was that serge, was made of silk and wool, whereas denim has always been made of cotton. The name however, made sense, since de Nimes, of Nimes, was simply pronounced denim.
Complicating matters, was that a material was imported from Genoa, Italy around same time. Jean, was a fustian- a blend of cotton, linen and/or wool. It sounded same, but just wasn’t made same. Though similar in many ways, denim was stronger material, which is likely why it ended up in Levi’s jeans, instead of sturdy, but less durable, jean.
Both materials crossed Atlantic to America, in late 18th century, where by 1800s, each had developed a distinctive composition and use. Jean went into clothes worn by men not engaged in manual labor, while denim became material of workingman’s attire.
Levi Strauss, who had immigrated from Germany in 1829, set off for San Francisco in 1853 to open a branch of his step-brother’s dry goods business. Among many items he sold were jean pants that he ordered from back East. Then in 1872, he was contacted by Jacob Davis, of Reno, Nevada. Davis had a brilliant idea to strengthen men’s pants by adding metal rivets. But he didn’t have money for patent. He proposed a partnership, and so Strauss paid for copyright, and in face of demand for stronger, longer lasting pants, switched fabric they were made of to denim. But “jean” stuck, and although he was manufacturing Levi’s waist overalls, original name for Levi’s jeans, that label eventually fell by wayside.
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