Man's jeans
Brand
Levi's
(American, founded 1873)
1950s
Denim
Gift of Richard Martin
Object number89.50.5
During the 1950s, denim became linked to rebels, bikers, and juvenile delinquents. This was largely thanks to films such as The Wild One, starring Marlon Brando. As menswear expert Bruce Boyer observes, “Brando’s denim jeans and black leather jacket identified him as a challenger of society as much as his sneer of insolence.” Due to this association, jeans were banned from many school districts as a symbol—even a cause—of teenage unrest.
DescriptionDark blue denim button fly five pocket jeansExhibitions