Would you like a bag with that?
Just something you never really think about: the pockets on your jeans. They go together like pepper and salt, fish and chips, tea and biscuits, and traffic jams and the morning rush hour.
Discover the surprising story behind jeans pockets: from the metal rivets and the iconic watch pocket to the perfect placement of back pockets. And good news: the front-pocket jeans from the '70s are making a comeback!
- The First Pair of Jeans
- In 1873, Levi Strauss designed a pair of sturdy work pants that eventually became the iconic jeans.
- Pocket watch
- The fifth, small pouch was intended for a pocket watch.
But did you know that behind the scenes, a lot of thought goes into these seemingly insignificant pockets? Not just here and now at PLEIN PUBLIQUE, but also back in the day, when jeans were still just work clothes.
IN THE BEGINNING…
… “jeans” weren’t about fashion but about functionality. The first pair of jeans was designed in 1873 by Levi Strauss. Today, it’s a legendary brand name, but back then, it was an ambitious entrepreneur of flesh and blood. His idea was to create indestructible work pants for cowboys and miners.
The work pants were made from extremely strong cotton fabric from Nîmes. In authentic French: “de Nîmes.” In casual American English: denim. Aha moment 1.
The same fabric was also used for the work pants of sailors from Genoa. Note: from Genoa. In authentic French: “de Gênes.” In casual American English: Dzjenes. Dzjeans. Jeans! Aha moment 2.
What do the French have to do with the origins of jeans anyway? Rien du tout. Beats us.
THE DENIM IS IN THE DETAILS
The ultra-durable work pants flew off the shelves. And as is often the case with new designs, they’re fine-tuned until they’re just right from A to Z.
The first upgrade was the metal rivets on the corners of the pockets—and initially, also along the fly. (cowboy, saddle… you get the idea.) These so-called rivets are responsible for the Dutch nickname “spijkerbroeken.” (Literally: nail trousers). These days, rivets no longer serve a functional purpose, but they’re part of the authentic denim look we all know and love.
You’ll sometimes see a chic heart-shaped rivet on our jeans. Have you ever noticed it, or are you completely blown away by how amazing the fit is for your figure? You’re not the first ; )
POCKET TALK
So much to tell, so little blog space. After a bit of a detour, we’ve finally arrived at the pockets. The iconic 5-pocket jeans have—as the name suggests—five pockets. Two on the back, two on the front, and then there’s that well-known tiny bonus pocket. It looks cool and is part of the iconic denim look, but what’s it for? You’ll never guess: it was originally designed to protect a pocket watch during rough-and-tumble work. Wristwatches didn’t exist back then, and hardworking labourers simply had to take their breaks right on time. Anyone who’s ever had a handyman over knows that. So the little fifth pocket is officially a pocket watch pocket. Now you know that, too.
BEHIND EVERY GREAT PAIR OF JEANS…
Here’s something else you might not think about, but we do: the shape and placement of the back pockets. Trust us: a centimeter higher, lower, at a different angle, or closer together makes a world of difference. Leave it to PLEIN PUBLIQUE jeans to transform a Lego-shaped butt or an ironing board-like rear into perky peaches or cool pears.
THE COMEBACK OF THE FRONT-POCKET JEANS
Do you remember them?
The front-pocket jeans from the ’70s, a favourite of one of our favourite style icons: the late and great Jane Birkin.
The best news: front-pocket jeans are back—though they never really went away. Spotted everywhere on the streets of Paris—and that’s all we need to know.
FAQ
Waarom hebben de stiksels soms een andere kleur?
Stikgaren kan de verf net anders opnemen dan de stof, zelfs wanneer beide dezelfde samenstelling hebben. Donkere contraststiksels en stiksels van 100% synthetisch garen kunnen ongeverfd blijven en hun oorspronkelijke kleur behouden.
