Late 1940s Levi's 501 jeans - very rare W30, L31

£1,700.00
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Description
Now we are giving you a chance to be a part of Levis history with an ultra rare pair of 501s from 1947 discovered by our skilled hands at Beyond Retro. Let's start with the fabric, a tightly woven denim made in the USA by White Oak Cone Denim in North Carolina, the exclusive manufacturers of Levi 501s back when these jeans were crafted. The denim was produced on vintage American Draper X3 fly shuttle looms. These looms give a completely unique weave to the fabric that modern day production can't compete with. The yarn is left uncut after each layer of weave, leaving a tightly bound edge that cannot unravel, meaning the jeans maintain their integrity throughout their life. You can see this with the white selvedge edge running down the outer side seams of legs and the inner seam of the watch pocket. There is a stain which is visible on the inside of the fabric and slightly on the back pocket, see the picture. Next we have the coveted red tab. Unlike modern Levis this red tab only has Levis written on one side all in upper case, showcasing the holy grail that is the 'Big E' This was introduced to Levis in 1936, to differentiate from the many competitors that were copying Levis dark denim and Arcuate back pocket stitching. The 'Big E' ran until 1971 but the one sided logo disappeared in the 50s making these jeans a rarity. The pockets have the classic Levis Arcuate stitching. There are many rumours as to the origins of this design such as a reference to the Rocky Mountain Eagle but no one knows for certain as Levis loss all their records in the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. These pockets are from when the double-needle sewing machine was first launched in 1947 in creating the design. Making the Arcuate more precise and uniform. The stitching on the Arcuate and throughout the jeans is in a faded lemon thread, a stark contrast to the modern orange stitching we see today
Sizing

Our garments are all vintage or pre-loved items. Standardised measurements of clothing have altered over the years. Please do not be put off by the sizing label on vintage garments, this will most likely be completely different to today's sizing and the item could still be the perfect fit!

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What condition will my item be in?

The majority of items in our vintage and retro catalogue are used items and subsequently, not all items will be perfect.

During our selection process, we examine each item in detail to check the quality of the item and to determine if there are any issues about the item that you need to know about. We are very honest in our selection and grading process because we want you to know exactly what you are buying and we want you to be happy and come back to us for more!

Excellent : Item is in excellent condition, with no holes, stains, or repairs. 

Great : The item appears slightly worn from general wear and could appear slightly faded or with a minor flaw in an unobvious place. It is considered very wearable as is. 

Good : The item appears worn and may have a combination of fading or a minor flaw for instance. Flaws may be outlined in the garment description. 

Fair : The item appears worn, and may have visible flaws. It is being offered because the item is highly desirable or it is more than 50 years old. The item is still considered wearable. The fault may be outlined in the garment description. 

Unused : Vintage clothing that has never been worn before. Usually these unworn items are complete with the original merchandise tags. These items are also graded for condition. 

Vintage Care

Here at Beyond Retro we want you to get the most out of your vintage clothes. The longer they last, the less goes to landfill!

We have lots of tips here to keep your special garments in the best condition, follow our basic steps and they can be worn for generations to come.

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