logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2020
22m 32s

Denim Wars | Cowboys & Indigos | 1

Wondery
About this episode
It's the 1930s and Californian jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. is struggling. The Great Depression is destroying jobs and killing demand for its denim workwear.So when a craze for the Old West boosts demand for jeans, Levi's and its rival Lee seize the moment. But then an unfamiliar stranger swaggers into town looking to make their battle a three-way shoo ... Show More
Up next
Nov 2020
Denim Wars | Old Western Blues | 2
It's the mid-1800s and a young wholesaler called Levi Strauss is looking to cash in on the California Gold Rush.But when a wandering tailor approaches Strauss with a revolutionary idea, his business takes an unexpected turn into the world of workwear — and it will change his fami ... Show More
23m 30s
Nov 2020
Denim Wars | Storming the Castle | 3
It's the 1950s and young Americans are idolizing the new wave of Hollywood rebels and horrifying their parents by wearing jeans. But as these post-war renegades take denim duds out of the workplace, the jean giants find themselves between a rock and a hard place.Do they hold fast ... Show More
23m 4s
Nov 2020
Denim Wars | From Freak to Chic | 4
It's the late '60s and Levi's is seeking to stay on trend by tuning into the flower-power movement taking over San Francisco. But keeping up with the ever-shifting tides of fashion is harder than it looks and soon Europe will be taking jeans onto an unfamiliar battleground: the c ... Show More
24m 41s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2024
👖 Levi's 501s: The World’s 1st Jeans | 6
What do Old West gold miners, biker gangs and Marilyn Monroe all have in common? The same pair of jeans…Invented by a down-on-his-luck immigrant tailor in the 1870s, this classic riveted pant launched a global denim market worth over $70B. How? By teaming up with Levi Strauss & C ... Show More
45m 45s
Sep 2020
Fashion: Denim
Blue jeans have long been heralded as an iconic American wardrobe staple. The lust for that perfect pair of jeans transformed not only an era, but an entire industry—and not necessarily for the better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 
47m 15s
May 2023
SYMHC Classics: Levi Strauss
This 2018 episode covers Levi Strauss, whose life story touches on a lot of important moments in U.S. history. His business was tied to the California Gold Rush, the U.S. Civil War and American clothing culture.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
43m 34s
Sep 2023
Levi Strauss: The Man Who Gave Blue Jeans to the World
On this episode of Our American Stories, this is the story of how one man got his American Dream stitched into a pair of blue jeans. Lynn Downey (Levi Strauss & Co. historian) is here to tell the story. Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)Support the show: ... Show More
38m 16s
Mar 2024
A Denim Moat
Getting into the jeans business is harder than it may seem. (00:13) David Meier and Deidre Woollard discuss: - Chewy’s customer growth problem. - If Chewy is the future of veterinary care. - The picks and shovels play behind sports betting. (14:42) Mary Long interviews Lauren Sh ... Show More
28m 51s
Oct 2022
Driving Chrysler Through Inflation | The Crash | 2
Lee Iacocca takes charge at Chrysler and finds a company on the brink of collapse. But his attempts to turn the automaker around are undermined by a new and unforeseen global economic crisis.To listen to Business Movers ad-free, join Wondery+ in the Wondery App. Click here to dow ... Show More
37m 51s