To celebrate Levi’s® Vintage Clothing’s historic Shrink-to-Fit™ fabrics being produced in Japan, we made 800 hand-numbered pairs of our 1922 “Japan” 501®. Soon after World War I, belts began appearing on fine clothing and eventually became important to younger working men. Belt loops were first added to 501® jeans in 1922, but suspender buttons remained until 1937 and the center-back cinch until 1942. The 1922 501® offered the best of both worlds: Younger men cut off the cinch in order to wear a belt, while more traditional users kept the cinch and wore suspenders.

This stitch-for-stitch reproduction was crafted in Japan from Japanese selvedge denim, and features every single archival detail—back leather patch, rivets, packaging and even the stamping on the buttons—translated into Japanese. Plus, they’re a limited-edition piece: Only 800 pairs were made.

• A stitch-for-stitch reproduction of our 1922 501® jeans
• Crafted in Japan from Japanese selvedge denim
• Features every single archival detail translated into Japanese
• With a back leather patch, rivets, packaging and stamping on the buttons all translated into Japanese
• Designed with organically grown cotton