Anyone wearing Levi's?

[Delta Expatriate]

Wore Levis from the late 60s up through the early 90s. I quit buying them in the early 90s, as a personal, silent protest against their public positions on certain issues, including, but not limited to, the second amendment. Even if I wanted to buy them, I doubt I would due to the price. I now wear Wranglers, which I am able to find at the local Academy store.

 

[Nevada Ed]

when I was young and trim and went C/W dancing, the big "W" was the
best fitting and boot cut out there.

As I gained a little weight the "L" was what I moved to until getting expensive.

Now in my senior years I go for comfort and my wife's approval with other brands.

 

[df06]

Don't wear them and sure will not be buying any.

 

[les.b]

My denim jeans come from '" The Texas Jean Company " . Much better quality , bigger pockets , better price and excellent customer service , made in the USA using only USA materials . Regards, Paul

For those who suggest Wranglers, I tried a pair (at the store, didn't buy them) and found that the front pockets were not deep enough for me to fit my EDC, a S&W 340 PD in a pocket holster into. The Levis that I wear every day are just right, with deep front pockets, which not only let me carry, but don't allow the change in my pockets to fall out when I sit on a couch or whatever.

A year or so ago, Levi shortened the front pockets, and I did not buy them at that time. Then, inexplicably, they lengthened them again...maybe folks complained. I don't know, but then I again bought more.

So, I guess that for me, at least, that lets out Wranglers. But I like cowboy4evr's suggestion...just went to the Texas Jean website. They seem to not only make their's in the USA, but even have a pair with a built in gun pocket!! That seems just the opposite of "anti-gun"!!! So maybe I'll try a pair of those and a pair of LL Bean, and see which I like the best...

I do agree that we should put our money where our best interests lie.

Best Regards, Les

 

[MRB1]

Levis don't fit me at all. I've had their denim jackets and they fit better than the Wrangler jackets. My Levi package on my Jeep was great. Farm and ranch work requires a heavier fabric, and Wrangler fits the bill.

 

[Watchdog]

I never really thought much about politics and clothing.

I'd venture to say that most people don't. I'd go on to say that I believe 90%-95% of their customers don't care one way or another what Levi Strauss, Inc. thinks about guns and gun control.

But the company is making the choice to become involved, not me, so I guess I will have to think about it, whether I want to or not.

No offense, Les, but I really don't see why you feel you'd "have" to think about it. This shouldn't be a life changing issue for anyone. Before I wasted a lot of time on this, I'd ask myself some questions. Is it going to affect my life and/or lifestyle? Is this company's political stance going to affect my loved ones? What about my cats...will it interfere with their lives? That's about all the thought I'd give it, especially since Levi Strauss, Inc. doesn't seem to be the least bit concerned about losing business from gun owners and other sportsmen.

Except for this most recent move by Levi Strauss, Inc., everyone has known the company has been mostly anti-2A for years and years. There's nothing new about this, other than (again) this recent move to partner with Bloomberg.

If some of the comments in this thread look familiar to you, that's because lots of similar comments about Levis were made on this forum about a year-and-a-half ago. If interested, you may read some of those same comments by clicking here and here.

I wear LL Bean shirts almost exclusively...that's what I have on right now. Think I'll try a pair of jeans and see how I like them.

Bean's jeans are a good product. You'd probably like them. I wear their flannel-lined jeans almost exclusively during the winter months. They wear well, too. Have a couple pairs that are about three years old...they're still good to go for this coming winter. Ditto for their flannel-lined shirts. The shirts are a bit pricey, but as I mentioned in another post somewhere, I'm wearing some of them that I bought in the 90s. Give their jeans a try. You might also look into some from Duluth Trading Company.

 

[joeintexas]

Another Wrangler guy here. Been wearing them for many years. Might look at the LL Bean line though if they come in odd sizes like a 35 waist. I agree with the idea of not burning your Levi's, just donate them to charity. Since I haven't bought a pair of Levi's in over 50 years I probably won't be hurting their bottom line too bad.

 

[oneounceload]

Stopped buying Levis when they shipped making them overseas. Costco and Sam's club jeans are about $13, a lot nicer on the wallet.

 

[DWalt]

The day I retired 10 years ago I switched to wearing Bermuda-type shorts as I have always disliked long pants. About the only time I don't is if I am attending a wedding, funeral, or we are going out to someplace fancier than Whataburger and my wife makes me wear long pants. I have found that by far the best shorts are the olive-drab Boy Scout shorts. They are available in adult sizes (I suppose for scoutmasters) and I usually find them on eBay. They just will not wear out and last almost forever.

Some years ago, Home Depot sold work shorts (for carpenters, etc.) and they had them on sale so I bought two pair for, as I remember, about $10 each. They were a sort of dark orange-tan color, and were also heavy and very well made. I managed to mess them up with paint, battery acid, etc. I haven't seen any at Home Depot since I bought mine, but if I did I would buy some.

I have about a half-dozen pairs of blue jeans (none being Levi's) which I should probably take to the Salvation Army or Goodwill as they no longer fit.

 

[gman51]

I quit Levi's a long time ago. They haven't been made in the USA for a long time and their anti gun/American stance over rides their American nostalgia for me. Yeah go over seas for cheap labor but still ask big bucks for the Levi name. Not me!

My work uniform supplied jeans were made in Vietnam. Vietnam??? I was shocked seeing that.

 

[oneounceload]

Vietnam labor is cheaper than China

 

[les.b]

Watchdog, as usual, you have helped put this in perspective. I guess I just don't like to think that my dollars are going to groups who are trying to undermine principles that are important to me. I guess that's why I have never joined the AARP. That, and I don't like to think I'm old enough!!

Best Regards, Les

 

[DWalt]

Levi's had a large facility here in San Antonio some years ago. It was a sewing plant. As I remember, all of the cut cloth components came into here from someplace else and were sewn together, primarily by Mexican women. No shortage of them here. Around 15 years ago it was shut down and moved to Mexico or possibly Central America where the labor was even cheaper.

Something similar very recently happened in another town about 80 miles west of San Antonio (Uvalde TX). Dickie's had a work clothing sewing facility there (again, the workforce was primarily Mexican women) and it was shut down and moved to Mexico. Just a fact of economic life.

 

[oneounceload]

Dickies also has a plant in Belize and they play some form of game with the way the components are brought in and out so they can say "Made in the USA"

 

[Wrangler Rich]

I don't wear Levi's

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Watchdog, as usual, you have helped put this in perspective. I guess I just don't like to think that my dollars are going to groups who are trying to undermine principles that are important to me. I guess that's why I have never joined the AARP. That, and I don't like to think I'm old enough!!

Best Regards, Les

Les, Les - You are old enough to join AARP.
But not joining is doing the right thing, IMO.

 

[Faulkner]

I haven't worn jeans in years. Last time I did, Carhartt's. I'm sure there's something unholy about Carhartt, but I haven't done the research . . .

Did the research for you . . . .

Carhartt, Inc., is a U.S.-based apparel company founded in 1889. Carhartt is known for its work clothes, such as jackets, coats, overalls, coveralls, vests, shirts, jeans, dungarees and fire-resistant clothing. It is still a family-owned company, owned by the descendants of founder Hamilton Carhartt, with its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

Carhartt manufactures most of its clothing overseas in China and India. Carhartt does have a manufacturing base in Mexico and owns and operates a limited number of unionized factories and distribution centers in the United States since recent times but is far and few between. However, Carhartt offers a "Union-Made in USA" line of workwear through its retailers. The company has four factories in the United States. The firm also makes an effort to use domestic suppliers. In 2015, Carhartt purchased 19.5 million pounds of cotton from Georgia, 32 million buttons made in Kentucky, and 1 million drawcords from Kentucky.

Due to the need for company refinancing from stiff competition of other third-world apparel manufacturers and pressure to drive down prices, the manufacturing of many of Carhartt's non-core apparel items have been outsourced abroad. Some countries where outsourcing is and has been done are: China, and Mexico (2nd world) though, Carhartt requires its international suppliers to be Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) certified.

Carhartt sells via many kinds of retailers but refuses to allow discount stores such as Walmart or K-Mart to carry its products in order to protect its brand. Large regional farm stores are among the company's most important retailers.

In the United States, Carhartt sponsors blue-collar organizations and events such as the National FFA Organization, and rodeos. The company is also a vocal supporter of organized labor. Carhartt sponsors work training programs such as Helmets to Hardhats. During the 9/11 World Trade Center rescue operations, the Carhartt company donated thousands of bib overalls to the rescue crews to be used on scene.

 

[oneounceload]

The company is also a vocal supporter of organized labor.

And yet, that union labor is why they moved most of the manufacturing overseas.............a little ironic, isn't it?

 

[les.b]

Been doing a little research on the Texas Jeans. Apparently they started out in Texas, but are now completely located in Asheville North Carolina. Not too far from Watchdog!! Supposedly all of their materials are made in the USA. Zippers, buttons, rivets, thread, and even the denim!! I have noticed many companies who produce clothing in the US will say that it is made from "imported fabric".

Google, (not that I completely trust them) has several reviews of their jeans.....some folks think they are great, and others say they are junk. So who knows.

Interesting stuff, though.

Best Regards, Les

 

[Warren Sear]

... The company is also a vocal supporter of organized labor...

No more Carhartts for me, then.

In a moment of weakness, I did buy a pair of Levis a few months ago. I haven't bought any of them for about 25 years. The fit and quality are impressive, but so is the price. I was disgusted by some propaganda they included advising not washing them very often, so as to stop global warming, or some such nonsense. I live in Minnesota; no water shortage or global warming here! So, no more Carhartts OR Levis for me any more.