About the 501XX 1954 model, which is one of my favourite jeans and has many opportunities to play an active role.
Introduction.
I love jeans, I love the shape, I love orthodox straight jeans, I wear a lot of different jeans, but I still love Levi’s 501.
Levi’s 501s have a long history, and like guitars and watches, a vintage second market has been formed, and there are many variations from the 19th century, before the war, during the war, after the war, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 2000s to the present. Variations exist.
The market is formed by collectors, enthusiasts and fashion items, and when they are old, rare and in good condition, they are worth a tremendous amount of money and transcend the category of jeans with many lovers all over the world.
Many jeans have been influenced by the 501, with some incorporating its shape and details, others being faithful replicas, and even Levi’s itself has archivally produced faithful reproductions of certain years, and many jeans under its influence exist and are still being created today. The Levi’s jeans are a great example of the kind of jeans that are still being produced today.
In this article, we will introduce you to what is considered to be our favourite 501XX model.
1. About the 501XX
The models known as 501XX generally refer to models sold from 1947 to the mid-1960s.
The reason for this is that on the right side of the belt loop on the back of the 501 (above the right pocket on the buttocks) there is a patch that shows the name of the product, and on this patch the name 501XX is written along with the name Levi’s. After the mid-1960s the name was changed from this 501XX to 501, and from then on the name of the 501 was used. The model is commonly known as the Big-E or 66 model and is classified as such.
The distinctive patch on Levi’s jeans is almost always missing from vintage jeans. Even if they remain, most of them cannot be identified, and the vintage 501s sold in the world are classified into different models based on other distinctive forms to identify the period when they were sold.
In fact, the patches of pre-1947 models are also marked 501XX, but pre-1947 models are commonly referred to as World War II models, pre-war models and older models have their own common names and are not called 501XX, so they are not referred to here as 501XX. The 501XX model is a generic term for those models sold between 1947 and the 1960s that were marked 501XX on their patches.
Date and type of 501XX, models before and after.
1 Up to 1946 (commonly known as the Great War model*, with a mixture of later 47 and Great War model forms during the post-war transition)
2 From 1947 to about 1953 Leather patch early period single-sided tab 501XX
3 From circa 1953 to circa 1955 Late leather patch double-sided tab centre loop 501XX
4 From 1955 to mid-1960s Paper patches (classified by form features, with or without galleries, etc.) 501XX
5 From mid-1960s to mid-1970s Models known as Big-E or 66 models
The 501XX I use here is a model commonly known as the 54 model, which was produced from 1953 to 1955. I also own a model that was produced a little later, called the 55 model. This 55 model will be described in another article.
2. The appeal of the 501XX.
a. Attractiveness in historical context
The 501XX is a model that was mass-produced from the post-war period to the 1960s, and is one of the most complete forms of trousers made from denim fabric with its roots in the work clothes that had been made before that time.
The functional beauty of the 501XX, which was made as work clothes and improved over and over, was taken over by subsequent jeans influenced by the 501 and 501, becoming the origin of the current jeans, and being the original is the biggest attraction of the 501XX that I feel.
The fact that there are still individuals who can wear them normally, while they are the roots of the current jeans, made 60 years ago, and the fact that the texture of age-related deterioration, which is one of the value criteria of what is called old clothes, vintage and antique, is very attractive and easy to understand, is also an attraction of 501XX.
Attractiveness of the 501XX from a historical background
1 Being the origin and original of today’s jeans
2 That they can be worn normally, despite being nearly 60 years old.
3 The texture of age-related deterioration of each individual item due to the passage of nearly 60 years
4 That the condition of the ageing texture and the condition of the individual item are all unique in the world.
5 The fact that it is impossible to reproduce the same condition.
6 The ageing patina is not created.
7 That the jeans are authentic, having been the source of many of the jeans that now influence them.
8 The ageing patina is attractive and easily recognisable.
The models before 501XX are also very attractive, but there are few existing units, the evaluation of historical value is high, the price is quite high, the condition is difficult to wear on a daily basis, and the form is slightly different from the current 501 (this is also an attraction), etc. The form of the current 501 and jeans made with respect to the 501 are often based on the form of the 501XX, and this is the basis for considering the 501XX to be the original 501.
(There are various theories and different points of view, but I think it is significant in terms of its influence on later products.)
c. Reasons to love the 501XX
The 501XX 1954Model, which was manufactured 60 years ago, has a very attractive texture due to its historical background and the passage of 60 years, which became the origin of the later jeans, and is also my perfect size, is very comfortable to wear and goes with any clothes, so I have many opportunities to wear it, and I love and cherish it. I have a lot of opportunities to wear them because they are very comfortable to wear and go with any clothes, and I love and cherish them.
Jeans are the basis of my fashion style. Among them, vintage 501XX with its background, story and actual texture make me crazy about enjoying fashion and I want to keep them with me for a long time.
d. If you are interested in a vintage 501
When purchasing, the price varies greatly depending on the form, age and condition of the jeans, so it is best to have some knowledge of the characteristics of each age group, but if you are not an avid collector, a reliable shop will have a fair price and will explain the product to you about the jeans you like. If you look on the web, you can find detailed information, so it’s good to look it up for reference.
As the product is highly hobbyist, I think that knowing the form and detail background of each of these ages will help to stimulate conversation and communication when discussing the form and condition of the product.
3. Details of the 501XX 1954 introduced here
1 Levi’s 501XX 1954 model
2 Leather patch (missing)
3 Centre belt loop
4 Double-sided tag ®︎ in
5 Waist 30inch Length 32inch
6 No tears, no hemming, indigo colour remains darker.
Likes.
- Size that fits my body.
- Beautiful indigo blue with a strong blue tinge.
- Beautiful line around the waist when worn, as with all 501s.
- Although they are old jeans, there is not much damage, so they go great with tailored jackets etc.
- As with all 501s, the silhouette is beautiful, and the style looks good.
Concerns.
- Colour fading issues when washed.
- The fact that they are expensive if you are considering buying them from now on.
- The fact that it won’t have much chance to be used in the summer when you sweat because of the washing problems.
- All items are one-offs, so it is difficult to find a size that fits you.
Examples of use.
Conclusion.
The 501 goes well with almost all items in men’s fashion, from military and various T-shirts, shirts and tailored jackets, and in winter, from the high street such as riders, flight leather jumpers and stadium jumpers, to coats and thick knitwear, so you are not limited in the items you can match.
In this context, choosing a pair of vintage 501s that are a little more particular will make the items you wear stand out, make even casual clothes look great and reaffirm the quality of the clothes you own.
I like straight jeans that are true to size, so I choose a size that is true to size, but I think they look great even if you dare to go up a size and wear them on the hips.
I am introducing 501XX jeans from the 50s, but the ones from the 60s onwards are also attractive. One of the characteristics of the vintage market is that the prices of older and rarer items are higher, so choosing the newer dated ones is also a choice.
I also love the newer 501s and 505s from the 90s. (But they are still almost 30 years old)
I think it’s a good idea to have a mechanical watch if you have the chance, as I think it goes great with a mechanical watch and will enhance your watch even more.
I think that if you build your fashion and choose the things you wear based on the key items you love, you will create a total, wonderful identity for the person who wears it. In this context, I would like to continue to introduce items that I myself can be attached to for a long time.
In this article, I focus on 501XX, jeans are my key item, not only 501XX, and I will introduce fashion and things to wear based on this key item in the future.
I hope this article will interest you in Levi’s 501 and jeans, old and new.
Shop.
The 501XX models introduced in this article were purchased at Fake-a (Fake Alpha) in Harajuku, Tokyo.
It is a shop so long-established and famous that I don’t need to introduce it, and the quality and condition of the second-hand clothes they handle are very high, and the shop is lined with treasures that collectors would be satisfied to see.
The shop’s greatness lies in its strong attention to quality, such as 40’s and 50’s jeans with almost no damage and those that are close to deadstock. Because it is a well-established, well-known shop, many of the items are in good condition and tend to be expensive, but the prices are fair and there is no doubt about the value attached to the price, so if you are looking for a particular pair of jeans or a particular piece, I think you will definitely be satisfied here.
My 501XX also shows the bluish indigo that comes out when the vintage 501s fade a little, which is often said to be a great thing about vintage denim, and I think this shows the shop’s commitment to stocking and its discernment and confidence in the products it handles.
The manager of this shop looks like a 50’s American delinquent who has slipped back in time and is a bit difficult to talk to, but he is very kind, has a high level of product knowledge and attachment to vintage clothing, and explains each item in detail. They also give accurate advice on how it feels to try on clothes and how to compare them with other products, so I think you will be able to choose products that you will be satisfied with.
If you are looking for high quality second-hand clothes, why not try visiting the shop once?
I will introduce them in another section, but I also buy Lee101Z 50’s and 50’s corduroy shirts here.
Fake-a is in the same family as the famous Belle Belgin in Harajuku and has a common website.
“Belle Belgin official website” Global shipping is not supported. Come to the shop when you come to Japan.
