Who Was Levi Strauss?
Who Was Levi Strauss? How did an immigrant who sold sewing supplies in New York City reinvent himself in the American West by creating the most iconic pair of pants in the world? Find out in this addition to the Who HQ library!
Back in New York, Levi had sold clothes and sewing materials with his brothers at J. Strauss & Brother. However, he now set his sights farther, wider. Before long, he came to California to expand his business.
On March 14, 1853, Levi Strauss stepped off a steamship and onto a dock in San Francisco. At that time, most of California was still wild and untamed. But San Francisco was growing fast. Levi was one of thirty-four thousand immigrants to arrive by ship that year.
The city was bustling. Theaters, saloons, and supply stores lined the walkways leading to the waterfront. The air smelled of salt and fish from the ocean. Sounds of ship horns blasted through the streets, and people crowded around the docks to buy everything from food to lumber and steel.
As a young working-class German immigrant, Levi left his family’s dry goods business in New York City to journey out west for the California Gold Rush. Only Levi wasn’t looking for gold! Instead, he wanted to provide the miners with sturdy clothes to wear while they worked in the dusty river beds.
His solution? Blue jeans – pants made of strong denim fabric – which have become one of the most beloved and fashionable clothing items in the world. Who Was Levi Strauss? follows the remarkable journey of this American businessman, and takes a look at how one man and a pair of pants changed fashion and the world forever.
About the Author
- Ellen Labrecque is a former Senior Editor for Sports Illustrated for Kids. She has authored over twenty nonfiction books for young readers, including biographies and a number of Who Was? biographies.
