A nice gift for the end of year celebrations. Keep your eyes peeled!
Levi’s jeans are appreciated for their comfort, their timeless style and because they go with everything. But did you know that some models sell for high prices today? Indeed, some vintage pieces from the famous American brand are currently being snapped up on the collectors’ market. What to check? A very precise flocking.
Since their creation in 1873, the success of Levi’s jeans can be explained by their robustness and their ability to last through the decades without losing their appeal. But it is especially the models from the 1940s to 1970s that interest vintage enthusiasts today. These rare and sought-after pieces tell the story of a time when every manufacturing detail was important. The craze is such that certain jeans from these periods are sold for staggering sums at auctions or on specialized platforms. A pair of jeans dating from the 1880s, discovered in a mine, was even sold for $76,000! However, if you don’t have such a relic in your cupboards, don’t despair. Other models, more recent, but just as popular, can earn you up to 50,000 euros.
So, to know if your jeans are a sought-after model, you have to start by examining a few specific details. The first thing to check is the famous red label sewn on the right back pocket. This little piece of fabric, emblematic of the brand, often carries valuable clues. Between 1949 and 1954, Levi’s used a particular typography to write its name on the label: capital letters with a slightly inclined design. This detail may indicate that you have a collector’s model in your hands. But the key element is found in a single letter. Is the word “LEVI’S” written entirely in capitals, with a distinct “E”? If so, you could be the proud owner of a “Big E”, a term used to refer to these jeans from before 1971. On the other hand, if the “e” is in lowercase, the value drops drastically.
While the label is a good place to start, there are other things to look at to confirm the value of your jeans. The seams, for example, are revealing. Before the 1980s, Levi’s used a specific method with a single stitch on the inner thigh. Likewise, the absence of a maintenance tab (introduced in the 1970s) is a sign that your part might be older. Finally, if you are a fan of thrift stores, know that these treasures are sometimes hidden among the piles of second-hand jeans, provided you have an eye for good deals.
