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The Birth of the Tiny Pocket: Levi Strauss & the 1870s
The tiny pocket became standard in 1873, when Levi Strauss & Jacob Davis patented riveted denim pants for working men.
These jeans were built for:
- Miners
- Railroad workers
- Cowboys
- Laborers
Durability and utility mattered more than fashion.
The watch pocket was placed inside the front pocket to:
- Keep watches safe during physical labor
- Prevent chains from snagging
- Reduce breakage
At the time, it was a brilliant design solution.
Why Not the Main Pocket?
You might wonder why watches weren’t placed in the main pocket.
The answer is movement.
Large pockets:
- Allowed items to shift
- Increased risk of cracking the watch face
- Made chains more likely to tangle
The tiny pocket held the watch firmly in place, even during intense work.
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