Levis 501 White Oak Cone Denim Review

The denim white oak is definitely higher quality than other fabrics and the wash is literally identical to a real vintage levi s pair i have from the 80 s.

Levis 501 white oak cone denim review.

Levi s 501 skinny is such a great vintage fit at a fraction of the price of other vintage inspired denim lines i e. Levis501 2453 white oak usa. Cone mills was one of the last producers of american selvedge denim and had been supplying levi s with its xx 501 selvedge denim since back when woodrow wilson was in office 1913 give or a take a few years. These made in usa series 501s are made with some of the last white oak red line selvedge denim in existence honoring a true american legacy with one of the most iconic pairs of jeans.

After 112 years in operation cone mills white oak closed its doors in 2017 bringing an end to a long standing partnership between levi s and the north carolina mill. White oak was perhaps most noteworthy for the golden handshake deal struck with levi strauss co. But levi s found an alternative for its top shelf reproduction sub label levi s vintage clothing in another denim mecca japan. Cone s famed selvedge denim has been made in the white oak plant since it was purchased in 1905 and so called because the plant once stood in the shadow of a giant oak tree.

Levi s501 1995 white oke selvedge denim keng studio. Here the denim is made on american draper shuttle looms the last remaining in operation anywhere and as far as cone is aware of a variety that never made it to. If you ve recently found yourself on the hunt for a pair of jeans utilizing cone mills white oak denim before there are none left to be had you may be in luck by way of none other than levi s themselves. The levi s cone mills golden handshake recently commemorated in a 2015 lvc collection.

But most importantly the jeans come from cone mills denim with an indigo warp outer layer and a brown tinted weft inner layer this means that as the denim fades a brownish thread will show through giving you a more rugged looking dirty fade to your denim. And these guys who have spent a lifetime in denim they all. Not sure if the recipe for standard stf white oak is any different than the stuff they use for levi s vintage but they re notoriously slow faders and as others have said you don t get super high contrast.

I find that if you re incredibly skinny or have more of a slender build the 501 might hang funny. When the white oak plant finally shuttered in 2017 it stunned countless brands and denim fans. So whilst down at their white oak mill in greensboro north carolina i asked them if this new fabric would be worthy of the 501 name. The jeans are based off of the 1966 501 a mid rise jean with regular fit and period accurate details.