Levi Strauss Founder of the company who turned jeans into a cult Date of Birth: 26.02.1829 Country: Germany

Biography of Levi Strauss

Levi Strauss, the founder of the company that turned jeans into a cultural phenomenon, quickly realized that he had struck gold, even though he never had to toil in the mines himself. Soon, the whole town was talking about Levi's miracle pants that were unbeatable. The number of orders grew rapidly. Levi abandoned his tent and moved into a real store on Sacramento Street in 1856. That's when the sign "Levi Strauss & Co." appeared.

Levi Strauss was born on February 26, 1829, in a Bavarian village in Germany. In June 1847, he moved to New York, where his extensive family had already settled, as was typical for Jewish families. As gold deposits were discovered in California, the gold rush began. One of Levi Strauss's brothers-in-law was among the first wave of enthusiasts who went to California, and in 1853, Levi followed. He arrived in San Francisco with a large shipment of canvas for wagons and tents. Robust canvas was an essential material for all kinds of temporary structures, and San Francisco during the gold rush was a city of tents. Levi Strauss planned to sell canvas and open a "thousand and one small things" store. He had already arranged for the goods to be delivered by his brothers who remained in New York.

Levi Strauss quickly realized that he had struck gold, even though he never had to toil in the mines himself. Soon, the whole town was talking about Levi's miracle pants, known as Levi's, that were unbeatable. The number of orders grew rapidly. Levi abandoned his tent and moved into a real store on Sacramento Street in 1856. That's when the sign "Levi Strauss & Co." appeared.

Levi Strauss became a millionaire in 1870. In 1886, the company built its headquarters on Battery Street in San Francisco. It had gas lighting, a freight elevator, and a huge store. The founder of the company lived in luxurious apartments on the top floor. A similar building was erected in New York. Of course, Levi Strauss & Co. was not only involved in jeans. They also produced other clothing, including nightgowns. However, it was thanks to jeans that the company remained unmatched by competitors.

Levi Strauss passed away in 1902. Flags were lowered in the business district of San Francisco, and extensive obituaries were published in all the newspapers. A man who made a significant contribution to the economic development of his country had left this world. His fortune was estimated at six million dollars, which would make him a billionaire in today's terms, given almost a century of inflation. Since Levi Strauss did not have any children, the company was inherited by his four nephews. The eldest of them, Jacob Stern, became the president.