Cowboys, cowgirls, rock singers, presidents, rebels, and style icons have all donned them. Our 501(r) Original Jeans are the perfect blank canvas for you to express yourself as you want. And, like the fashion industry, they've been developing since their debut in the late 1800s. In 2001, Levi's introduced its new generation of jeans with a more refined look and feel. The term "jeans" comes from the French word for cotton garment. In the early 1500s, Europeans began making garments from woven cotton and later hemp. The first denim fabrics were made in the 18th century by British weavers who used old laws against manufacturing low-quality cloth to make a more durable alternative for soldiers' uniforms. Denim was first sold to consumers as work clothes for farmers and miners. The original Levi's 501 Jeans were designed by Harvey Cox for the farm team of the Chicago Cubs as pants that would not tear up or stain during play. They were an immediate success and are still worn by players today. The modern version of the jeans is known as the 511 because it has five pockets: two front pockets, one back pocket, and two leg openings. After the success of the 501, other brands soon followed suit and created their own versions of the jeans. Some added features included buttons, zippers, and tabs while others removed some of the features used by Levi's.