Sui Generis · Fashion history

Jacob Davis

Levi's

Jacob William Davis was a Russian-American tailor who is credited with inventing modern jeans. Growing up in Russian Empire, he emigrated to the United States as a young man and spent some time in Canada as well. He invented jeans by using sturdy cloth and rivets to strengthen weak points in the seams, and partnered with Levi Strauss to mass-produce them.

Jacob Davis
unknown (Life time: 1908) · Source · Public domain

Houses & roles

Career milestones and recorded collection credits. Collection-year ranges identify seasons in our archive, not employment start and end dates. Roles at different houses can overlap.

YearsHouse & roleExplore at Sui Generis
1853 (company); riveted blue jean patented 1873Levi'sFounder / co-founderCollection archive →Read the house guide →
Sources & further reading

Biography excerpt adapted from Wikipedia contributors; shortened and pronunciation notes removed. Source & contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. This license applies to the adapted biography text.

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