logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2020
23m 30s

Denim Wars | Old Western Blues | 2

Wondery
About this episode

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 family’s destiny.

Listen ad-free on Wondery+ here 

Support us by supporting our sponsors!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 8
The Rise and Fall of Peloton | Welcome to the Ride | 1
In 2011, avid fitness fan John Foley comes up with an idea for an internet-connected exercise bike that allows users to experience the communal nature of a cycling class from the comfort of home. He thinks the idea will make gyms a relic of the past. The next year, he and four ot ... Show More
39m 31s
Oct 1
Dieselgate | Running on Fumes | 2
By 2014, Volkswagen has taken the U.S. auto market by storm with its fleet of affordable, fuel-efficient diesel cars. But a new study threatens to reveal the dirty truth behind so-called ""clean"" diesel. When the EPA comes knocking with questions, the company's very survival is ... Show More
38m 38s
Sep 24
Dieselgate | Truth or Dare | 1
In 2007, Volkswagen's new CEO Martin Winterkorn sets his sights on besting GM and Toyota to become the top automaker in the world. But the company can't get there without cutting a few regulatory corners.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendation ... Show More
30m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2023
Becoming Nike | The Crazy Idea | 1
26-year-old college graduate Phil Knight founds Blue Ribbon Sports and makes a success of his plan to import Japanese running shoes to America. But as the relationship with his only supplier begins to unravel, Phil decides to gamble his company’s future on a fundamental shift in ... Show More
38m 13s
Dec 2016
Patagonia: Yvon Chouinard
In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https ... Show More
25m 43s
Jan 2024
Hatching Penguin | Paperback Pioneer | 1
To save the publishing company he inherited from his uncle, British publisher Allen Lane launches a radical new line of paperback books – but finds it’s a tall order to get a resistant industry to embrace the new business.Want to listen to the remaining episode of Hatching Pengui ... Show More
33m 7s
Nov 2019
Medieval Merchants
The medieval economy underwent a profound transformation, becoming ever more commercialized and monetized. Merchants helped drive that change, moving goods from place to place and profiting on the returns. Today, we meet some of them: an Italian named Francesco Datini, one of the ... Show More
45m 23s
Dec 2022
Fast Fashion | Fil à fil | 2
Nous sommes en 1974. Né dans une famille espagnole très pauvre, Amancio Ortega est obligé d’arrêter ses études pour commencer à travailler, comme coursier pour une marque de vêtements, puis couturier. Motivé par une incroyable envie de s’en sortir et de s’extraire de sa condition ... Show More
24m 27s
Nov 2023
Making Macy's | If at First You Don't Succeed | 1
After a series of failed enterprises in California and Massachusetts, Rowland Macy launches his latest retail store in New York – in the fast-growing metropolis he finds not only success at last, but also a new family to take his legacy forward.Want to listen to the remaining epi ... Show More
34m 37s