Levi’s 501

The rise on the Wrangler is about an inch bigger than that of the Levi’s – almost ridiculous. However, the rise shrinks down a bit, after soaking and drying it, and things become fairly cool. The Wranglers are to be worn higher on the hips; they just look better that way — else just sag them a bit.

The Levi’s on the other hand – sag them or not, sit most perfectly on the waist. The 13MWZ has a zipper, while the 501 has a button. The 501 leaves the MWZ way too behind on this one — currently available in five colours in rigid, shrink-to-fit form: Indigo, black, green, light blue, and grey. The 13MWZ is available only in indigo in rigid form. The blue jeans, originally known as XX, and later evolved into 501, (the product’s lot number) has been around since 1872, in some form or another. Since 1947, the jeans is probably the closest in cut and features that we have today in the modern iteration. The quintessential five-pocket jeans retains the gull wing pocket stitching and ‘red tab’ logo fabric that is sewn under the left side of the rightward rear pocket. Levi’s had the ‘double arcuate’ and tab design on the rear pocket trademarked in 1943. Born out of the need for Rodeowear in the mid 1940s, Wrangler was another American overalls company (fast fact: the term “jeans” wasn’t used until the 1960s). Coincidentally, 1947 also marks the birth of the 13MWZ (same as the modern 501). The 13MWZs come with a brown rubber patch sewn into the top of the right rear pocket.

faisal@timesofoman.com The Wrangler retails for $25 internationally, while the Levi’s retails for about $50. However, the 501s frequently go on sale and can be easily had for lesser prices round the year. Wrangler still beats it: identical in quality, half in price.