No More Holes in My Pants! The Story of Levi Strauss By Casey Memmott

In 1829, a baby was born in Buttenheim, Germany - and not just any baby. It was Levi Strauss! He had a big family with 5 siblings. His two older brothers lived in America. Colleen- take out period between Germany and And, replace with dash 1

When Levi was a kid, there were no jeans When Levi was a kid, there were no jeans. The pants that workers wore were thin, and not very strong. Well, little did Levi know that later in his life he would change that forever! 2

Two years later, Levi sailed to America with his mother and sisters Two years later, Levi sailed to America with his mother and sisters! They met up with Levi’s two older brothers in New York City. They had their own dry goods company. When Levi was only six, something absolutely TERRIBLE happened! His father died! Like the bolded word- Shannon Colleen- The BROTHERS have their own dry goods company. 3

When Levi was 24, he went to San Francisco When Levi was 24, he went to San Francisco! He was there during the gold rush, but he wasn’t going to look for gold. No, he was too smart for that. He went to San Francisco to sell goods! His dry goods company, Levi Strauss and Co., sold things like clothing and fabric to small shops. Colleen- like the specificness (small shops) and the sentence, no, he was too smart for that. 4

Levi noticed that the gold miners pants were thin with holes in them Levi noticed that the gold miners pants were thin with holes in them. Levi decided to make pants out of a stronger material. 5

After that, Levi got a letter from a man named Jacob Davis who had been buying fabric from Levi. Jacob had made Levi’s pants stronger by adding copper rivets. Jacob wanted to patent the pants, but he needed a partner. American businessman Levi Strauss was perfect. The two men formed a partnership and patented the pants. 6

Levi’s dry goods company started selling the jeans Levi’s dry goods company started selling the jeans. Jacob and Levi first had the jeans made by seamstresses in their homes, but later Levi started a factory to make them. Colleen- Likes details 7

Jeans were so sturdy that farmers, miners, and cowboys wore them Jeans were so sturdy that farmers, miners, and cowboys wore them. They were good work pants, better than the thin ones that got ruined easily. Colleen- “The jeans” change the word good. 8

The jeans became even more popular when cowboys wore them in movies The jeans became even more popular when cowboys wore them in movies. When people saw the cowboys wearing jeans, they wanted a pair for themselves! 9

. Like the ending- Shannon Levi Strauss died when he was seventy-two. He was never afraid of hard work. Levi’s jeans are shipped all around the world. Everyone wears jeans!!! There are so many different types of jeans, and without Levi there wouldn’t be any! 10

BIBLIOGRAPY PAGE Information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levi_Strauss Gold Dust and Blue Jeans by Martel, Nancy Byrnes http://www.biography.com/people/levi-Strauss949689 Cover Photo http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rErOkVuR0xA/T6jyqb0oNSI/AAAAAAAAGVw/EyF6ltSb7F4/s1600/LStrauss.gif Most Pictures from Pixie