Levis 501 White Oak Cone Denim Review

Levi s vintage 501 lineup 198.

Levis 501 white oak cone denim review.

But levi s found an alternative for its top shelf reproduction sub label levi s vintage clothing in another denim mecca japan. Cone mills was one of the last producers of american selvedge denim and had been supplying levi s with its xx 501 selvedge denim since back when woodrow wilson was in office 1913 give or a take a few years. Not sure if the recipe for standard stf white oak is any different than the stuff they use for levi s vintage but they re notoriously slow faders and as others have said you don t get super high contrast. Here the denim is made on american draper shuttle looms the last remaining in operation anywhere and as far as cone is aware of a variety that never made it to.

When the white oak plant finally shuttered in 2017 it stunned countless brands and denim fans. I find that if you re incredibly skinny or have more of a slender build the 501 might hang funny. If you ve recently found yourself on the hunt for a pair of jeans utilizing cone mills white oak denim before there are none left to be had you may be in luck by way of none other than levi s themselves. Levi s 501 skinny is such a great vintage fit at a fraction of the price of other vintage inspired denim lines i e.

So whilst down at their white oak mill in greensboro north carolina i asked them if this new fabric would be worthy of the 501 name. In 1915 to be the exclusive manufacturer of the xx denim used in the brand s 501 jeans. These made in usa series 501s are made with some of the last white oak red line selvedge denim in existence honoring a true american legacy with one of the most iconic pairs of jeans.

And these guys who have spent a lifetime in denim they all. The jeans are based off of the 1966 501 a mid rise jean with regular fit and period accurate details. The denim white oak is definitely higher quality than other fabrics and the wash is literally identical to a real vintage levi s pair i have from the 80 s. The 501 isn t everyone s cup of tea.

The levi s cone mills golden handshake recently commemorated in a 2015 lvc collection. After 112 years in operation cone mills white oak closed its doors in 2017 bringing an end to a long standing partnership between levi s and the north carolina mill. White oak was perhaps most noteworthy for the golden handshake deal struck with levi strauss co. Cone s famed selvedge denim has been made in the white oak plant since it was purchased in 1905 and so called because the plant once stood in the shadow of a giant oak tree.