Why do jeans have a small pocket: who invented it?

Jeans are one of the most versatile parts of a modern person's wardrobe. There are bold styles for fashionistas and fashionistas, and classic models for conservatives. But almost all of them have a small puzzling detail. It is a tiny pocket on the front of the waist.

Where did it come from and what is it for? OBOZREVATEL looked into the matter. There are at least three versions. It is known that this pocket first appeared on jeans in 1873 - at the dawn of this wardrobe item. The legendary Levi Stross himself sewed it on to his invention.

Version 1 - a watch

Fashion historians suggest that Stross and his partner Jacob Davis attached this patch to their jeans so that they could conveniently carry a pocket watch on a chain. The size of the pocket was slightly larger than on modern models. In men's suits, the watch was worn in the jacket, but work clothes did not allow for this, so the inventors of jeans solved this issue in this way. They also fixed the watch pocket with metal rivets for strength and durability.

Version 2 - a useful little thing

Since jeans were originally workwear, people who wore them needed to have various small items on hand. Nails for carpenters, rock samples for miners, and small nuggets for gold miners. It was for these purposes that tailors made this pocket.

Version 3 - a lighter

This version is associated with cowboys. Cattlemen of the American West almost entirely smoked cigarettes, so they needed such an item as a lighter throughout the day. They started using this pocket to keep it at hand and to make it easy to get it out.

What about now?

Modern jeans usually have more functional pockets. A pair in the front and a pair in the back. And the small watch pocket has remained more of a tribute to tradition. You can still put some small things like coins in it, but for the most part, it still remains a purely decorative element.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL told how to choose jeans so that it doesn't look tasteless.

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