If we asked you what your most-worn piece of clothing is, chances are high that you’d say “my jeans.” For almost a hundred and fifty years the blue jean has been a symbol of classic Americana. But did you know that Levi Strauss & Co sold the original blue jean back in 1873?

The first spark of an idea came to Jacob Davis, a tailor in Reno, Nevada. He was the first to use copper rivets in men’s denim and cotton duck cloth trousers (known at the time as “twill”) in order to reinforce the weakest points of the piece of clothing. This technique made the trousers stronger for a laborer’s daily wear. Davis invited Levi to take out a patent with him. On May 20, 1873 the patent was granted to Davis and Levi Strauss & Co. The two men began manufacturing them, and the rest is history.

Now, the iconic blue jean is no longer reserved for laborers. It’s the single most iconic piece of clothing we can think of, worn by millions of Americans every day. In fact, did you know that most Americans own at least seven pairs of jeans? We love it so much that there are now dozens of different styles of jeans: from the classic Levi’s 501® Straight Leg to a trendy high-rise cut with a wide leg, Levi’s has them all.

Authentic denim is made with cotton. You need cotton in your denim to provide that perfect texture: cotton denim is durable yet will mold to your body with each wear, meaning your denim jeans will be made uniquely your own every time you pull them on.

Not only did Levi’s create the first-ever blue jeans, but they’ve also partnered with our Blue Jeans Go Green™ program this year to help mitigate clothing waste. Blue Jeans Go Green™ collects worn denim, made with cotton, and turns it into housing insulation used is building efforts across the country. This keeps your old denim out of landfills and gives it a new purpose.

To participate in the Levi’s denim drive, head to your local Levi’s® store or Levi’s® Outlet to receive 20% off a single item when you bring your denim in for recycling.