What does the XX on Levi's 501 tags mean?
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ANSWERS: 2
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Originally it represented the weight and quality of the denim used. XX denim was the top of the line denim manufactured by the Cone Mills. Nowdays it means that the jeans are "Shrink to Fit".
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Levi's 501 refers to the Original button fly Levi's jeans. The 501 XX is usually refers to a 501 jean in a "shrink-to-fit" denim. Most 501 jeans today are sold already washed and pre-shrunk, which means the size on the label is the way it will fit. The shrink to fit is a rigid, un-Sanforized cotton that will shrink 5 to 10% after the first two or three washes. Thus, to ensure proper fit, the rigid 501's need to be bought one inch larger in the waist, and two to 3 inches longer in the leg to allow for shrinkage. Some feel the quality of the shrink to fit is higher than the pre washed, but this is hard to evaluate, as Levi Strauss now has so many different manufacturing plants around the world. Part of the cachet of the 501 shrink to fit was that it was the last Levi Strauss 501 jean made in the historic San Francisco factory, which is now been shuttered in Levi Strauss ' move to foreign manufacturing. The standard jean with a zipper is the 505, which is cut similarly to the 501, except that it has a zipper fly. There are many other model numbers, e.g., 517 for the boot cut jean, 550 for the relaxed fit.
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