Levi's jeans: Fading away (Company Shipping 800 Jobs Overseas)

[wellst0nev0ter]

Levi's jeans: Fading away
Malcolm Mayhew, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Published January 7, 2004LEVVAR
SAN ANTONIO -- This week, the last of the Levi Strauss & Co. manufacturing plants in the United States will close, fading this American icon like a pair of its own 501s.

The struggling denim company has announced that the last two of its U.S. factories, near downtown San Antonio, will shut their doors, leaving 800 employees out of work and ending an American tradition that began 150 years ago. Although the company's headquarters in San Francisco will remain open, and contract work at some U.S. plants will continue, the bulk of the $4.2 billion company's jeans will be manufactured by suppliers in 50 other nations -- including countries in Asia and the Caribbean, where labor is cheaper.

That Levi's will now be manufactured overseas signals to some pop culture observers the death of an institution, one that has been stitched into American imagery like the little red Levi's tag.

MORE. . .

[proud patriot]

1. We were Levi 501 dedicated buyers

Never again ...sad too cause I loved those jeans .

[Ernesto]

2. Yup, the California gold rush jeans

I've worn them for 1/2 a century. The last round of Levi plant closings promted me to inspect my newest pair. Guess what... Made In Columbia! That pair of jeans was bought over 2 years ago, so this has been going on for a while.

[proud patriot]

3. Another part of America sold off for cheap labor

:-( really really sad

[grannylib]

4. *Sigh* and I used to love Levi's; have not bought any new jeans in a long

time now (I buy all my jeans at thrift stores) but it makes me really sad to see all these businesses moving overseas. And it scares me, to be honest; what the hell is going to be left for Americans if this thief in the White House has his way??

[afraid_of_the_dark]

5. Maybe this is just a solution to a bigger problem...

If they keep shipping jobs overseas, it will put a damper on illegal immigration. They won't come here if the jobs aren't here...

With that said, it's just sad that the only thing "American" about American businesses is their lust for money. Oh, and maybe one employee in an office in the US just so they can say they haven't moved ALL their operations overseas.

[Shirley_U_Geste]

6. What is the alternative????

Please, oh please, SOMEBODY has to know of an alternative to Levi's.
I have always considered Levi's to be the official stoner jeans.

Among the alternatives I have ruled out:
Tommy Hilfiger - No way, they seem completely gay (which is alright if you're gay, but I am not)
Wranglers - Farmer jeans
Arizona - Tight in the crotch and lame fading

I want some relaxed or loose fit, straight leg is what I prefer but I can deal with tapered if they aren't tapered much. I like the stoner fade of Levi's. It is streaky with texture. I hate jeans that fade evenly, they look baby blue after a month or so.

Any suggestions???

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Diamond Cut jeans...

Link

[Ruby Romaine]

9. try buying from these companies

http://www.nosweatshop.com/
http://unionjeancompany.com/

and Malden Mills

http://www.polartec.com/
for a product made by well treated workers!

[madrchsod]

8. Levis haven`t made decent jeans

since the late 60`s. they cut the weight of the fabric during that time. i buy at thrift stores and t j max and Marshall's. check out vintage clothing sites ,they may have old levis...