Almost every person has jeans in their wardrobe. Distinctive feature These pants have five pockets. The smallest one, which is located on right side trousers, inside the main one, is an integral part of the entire denim culture. If initially it was considered an exclusively decorative attribute, then after a short time this tiny pocket begins to perform many different functions.

What is the name of the small pocket in jeans?

Since the appearance of the fifth pocket in jeans, there have been several variations of its names. All of them determine the purpose of this element of denim trousers. The options are:

1. Drugs packet, or medicine package - used to store medications;
2. Watch pocket - pocket watch (in Levi's catalogs the pocket has such literal translation);
3. Funny pocket - a funny pocket (occurred due to the fact that illegal drugs were hidden there);
4. Coin pocket or pocket for coins - used for money.

History of appearance

The appearance of jeans is associated with the name of Leib Strauss from Bavaria. During the anti-Semitic period, the future designer Leib Strauss, born into a Jewish family, changes his name to Levi Strauss and goes to America. At that time, and this was around the 1800s, there was a gold rush going on there. Levi gives up the race for gold and decides that The best way getting rich means taking care of the workers. The young man is engaged in trade, selling fabrics and haberdashery.

One day, having successfully sold all the goods, he discovered that only a roll of cheap hemp canvas remained. Levi Strauss realized that it would be difficult to sell it, so he made trousers, which were quickly snapped up by prospectors. This was the beginning of the history of jeans. In 1853, Lévi Strauss and cousin opened the first Levi Strauss & Co brand store. Hemp fabric was replaced by light blue and blue denim.

The quality of the material was liked by the workers who worked in the mines. Pants were highly valued due to their strength, reliability, and durability. The cowboys of the Wild West also liked these trousers, which, like the cowboy hat, became the personification of that era. The period of the gold rush, the times of cowboys, was marked by the fact that then trousers were invented, the fashion for which remains even after more than a hundred years.

In 1873, American Michael Regalo, who is the designer of the Levi's brand, came up with new model jeans - 501 XX. It differed in that a special pad was sewn inside the right compartment, which fit tightly to the fabric, had certain dimensions and strict standards. According to historians of the fashion industry, it was originally intended for wearing pocket watches, but then another purpose appeared - for storing gold-mined nuggets. Then the pocket was the fourth, not the fifth: the classic jeans of that time - with one back pocket.

What was a tiny pocket on jeans used for before?

There are three versions, for which the Levi’s designer came up with a fifth pocket on jeans. They are as follows:

1. For wearing pocket watches on a chain. Back then, this small compartment was sewn a little larger than the modern one. This was necessary so that the watch on the chain could fit in it.
2. Storage space small parts that workers need.
3. For Zippo lighters, which were actively used by almost all cowboys. It is believed that for this reason, over time, the pockets became smaller in size- the way people are used to seeing them now.

Watch

19th century fashion suggested the use of watches on a chain rather than watches on bracelets. Judging by the name “watch pocket”, it is not difficult to guess that a watch was worn in the smallest part of the pants. Considering that jeans are work clothes, holding the item in other places was inconvenient. The chain was attached to a leather belt, belt loop or belt, and the watch itself was kept in the pocket. True, it was not very comfortable: when wearing it on the side, I constantly felt discomfort due to the fact that the watch put pressure on my thigh.

Coins

Another version of what the pocket compartment was used for is money. Coin pocket perfect place, in which you can store cash. At that time, paper banknotes were almost never used in America, so this cut of pants helped to quickly find and easily get small coins. The version that a small pocket was specially sewn for this purpose is quite realistic and justified.

Gold nuggets

The gold rush was a very difficult time. Gold miners worked in the mines day and night. The search for nuggets was very active, so there was a risk of losing the find. And there were many hunters for other people's prey. At this time, jeans with a small, secure compartment in which gold could be safely hidden became especially popular.

Small items

After Levi Strauss (Levi Strauss) separated from the overalls top part and patented his invention, pants became especially popular among the working class. It is believed that a small pocket on jeans is intended for small items, small things that should not be lost and should always be at hand. Strong, durable denim fabric securely stored bolts, nuts, terminals, nails, and screws. Even a penknife could be carried in this compartment.

Lighters

A hundred years ago, as now, a small pocket on jeans was perfect for storing lighters. During the days of cowboys, Zippos were popular, which fit in a small front pocket. Even when moving at high speed on horseback, nothing was lost. After a while, Zippo was replaced by Cricket lighters, which also fit perfectly into this decorative detail of the pants.

Medicines

The name “drugs pocket” suggests that the shallow compartment in jeans was intended to store medications. There is a version that Regalo himself created this pocket to hide illegal drugs in it. After police raids, a couple of narcotic tablets could often be found in pockets. Many consider this version dubious, but it has its place.

Personal talismans

People who constantly carry various amulets and talismans with them try to keep them as close to themselves as possible, but so that they are hidden from prying eyes. A small pocket compartment is best suited for this, which will reliably hide such an attribute and prevent the accessory from falling out or being detected by prying eyes. Wearing personal talismans is another version of the appearance of the fifth jeans pocket.

Modern Application

The classic shape of jeans with five pockets has become established and is still used today. Modern Application The smallest compartment isn't much different from what it was a hundred years ago, but it does add a few new reasons to use the pocket. In the days of payphones, small change could easily fit there; now they carry subway tokens, travel tickets, paper clips, chewing gum, paper money and other small items there. Often the pocket is used to store contraceptives.

Levi's Red Wire DLX jeans with built-in player

A new product from Levi's that has appealed to many music lovers, a product developed in conjunction with the iPod is the Red Wire DLX jeans. Their peculiarity is that they are equipped with a built-in, almost invisible player. The device is equipped with retractable headphones and a joystick that allows you to control the iPod without taking it out. The device does not cause any discomfort to the owner, is easily removed, and after removal, the pants can be washed. There are options for women and men, and appearance The model emphasizes the minimalist style of the iPod.

Video

Surely you have at least one pair of jeans. And these jeans are almost guaranteed to have this little pocket that timidly peeks out from the front right pocket. This combination comes in the standard five-pocket design for jeans.

But how and when did this little pocket appear? Do you use it? For what? Most likely, you, like me, are not putting in there what it is intended for. Although, there was a time when I was much younger, and I kept exactly what was supposed to be there.

Let's start our story in 1873 with these two guys:

These are Jacob Davis (born in Riga, originally named Jacob Yofis) and Levi Strauss (Loeb Strauss from Bavaria). They both immigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century, Americanized their names, and began making clothing. Strauss had been making durable cotton work pants for 20 years when Davis contacted him. He wrote what he came up with new way produce durable pants, and offered Strauss cooperation. Davis himself simply could not raise the $68 needed to patent the idea (in today's money that's more than $1,300). The men received a patent together and began producing jeans based on Levi Strauss & Co. (although at first they were called “work overalls”).

Davis's invention was to fasten frequently torn parts of pants with copper rivets. It is for this, and not at all for durable fabric, or a new style, that Levi Strauss & Co. received her jeans patent in 1873.

The first models of jeans had only three pockets: two in the front, and one (right) in the back.

But in 1890, the company decided to introduce an innovation, a small watch pocket. In all company documents it is called “watch pocket”. The size was specifically chosen to fit most pocket watches of the time.

Only many years later, at the beginning of the 20th century, a second back pocket was added to Levi's jeans, which became the last of the “five pockets.” A small watch pocket was the fourth.

When I was at university, I wore just such a pocket watch on a chain, which I put in this pocket. At the time, I was very pleased with how well this “secret coin pocket” fit my watch. Then it never occurred to me that I was using the pocket for its intended purpose!

Levi's design was popular and was adopted by many other jeans manufacturers and others. Today, the five-pocket style can be found on a huge number of different pants.

The exception is trousers designed to be worn with a suit. They do not have a pocket for a watch, because traditionally it was believed that when putting on a suit, a man would put his watch in one of his pockets, or in a vest pocket.

During World War II, Levi's changed the design slightly, removing two studs from upper corners watch pocket. In this way, the company supported saving metal for military needs.

Over time, the fashion for pocket watches went away. Today they are worn only by old-fashioned grandfathers and teenagers trying to somehow distinguish themselves from their peers (my case). And in the watch pockets they put everything from small change and lighters to condoms.

Levi's representatives say that the company is not removing this outdated pocket out of a desire to preserve the original design.

I got rid of my pocket watch a long time ago, I wear it now

A small pocket on jeans has always interested inquisitive people. It has even become the subject of widespread debate, because it is not easy to get anything out of it, but at the same time it is difficult to lose it. Let's try to figure it out.

Background

Jeans were originally used as work clothes for gold miners and, of course, an attribute of cowboys. Pockets on cowboy jeans - an indispensable condition their uniforms for combat operations, because they could hide a folding army or capsule (a detonator, a piston for a powder charge in a firearm). Levi Strauss invented this type of clothing in 1853 and called it “topless overalls.” It looks like all five pockets of the overalls went to the trousers. This was the period of the “gold rush”, when it was convenient for seekers of the precious metal to store small nuggets in a tiny fifth pocket. The small pocket first appeared on Levi's jeans in 1873. It was Levi's 501 XX model. Such a pocket is listed in the company’s catalog as a watch pocket, and its creator is considered to be the American designer Michael Regalo.

Versions

We have already named two versions. But there are other assumptions. The number of versions of why jeans have a small pocket is amazing.

1. Handymen kept nails or small coins in a small pocket.
2. According to one version, Michael Regalo, as a joke, invented a small pocket for those who could hide ecstasy (an illegal drug) in it during a police raid. Therefore, the nickname “drugs packet” was assigned to the pocket.
3. According to another version, Mark Lidin sewed the fifth pocket specifically for his talisman - a small stone that brings him good luck.

If you continue to think about what a small pocket on jeans is for, you can find out that:

• An important accessory for cowboys has always been a lighter. The size of the small pocket was allegedly specially adjusted to fit the Zippo lighter. Nowadays, the pocket takes on the dimensions of a Cricket accessory, which has earned a good reputation.
• This item of clothing was used for watches, which were previously worn on a chain attached to the belt.
• They contained contraceptives, the packaging of which corresponded to the size of the pocket, as well as romantic messages or engagement rings.

Creative

You can continue to investigate the fact of why a small pocket on jeans is needed for a long time. But it’s still interesting to see how in our time they manage to squeeze mobile phone or hook on your sunglasses.

Now attention, surprise! Levi's, the most famous brand in America and the world, focusing on innovative technologies and creativity, has developed a new stylish model Redwire Levi DLX jeans, which contains built-in retractable headphones, joystick, contact terminals under white leather on a small pocket. A four-way joystick allows you to adjust the volume of the player without removing it from your pocket. Thanks to the jeans, the user also has the opportunity to control the image on the screen of his iPod. Jeans can be washed without fear, because all devices can be unfastened along with the pocket.

Now you know what a small pocket on jeans is for, but don’t rush to conclusions. Surely they will find some other use for it that will surprise with its novelty. And the small pocket will again be the subject of great controversy.

The history of jeans began in 1973, when Levi Strauss separated the upper part from overalls and received a patent for his invention. Since all other details of the resulting pants remained unchanged, it can be assumed that the builders had a small pocket before this modernization. Therefore, the main version of why there is this part on jeans is that workers put nails, screws, nuts and other small things in it Construction Materials.

The rise in popularity of denim coincided with the gold rush in North America. Therefore, prospectors often put washed-up nuggets into it. And adventurers who especially believed in luck hid talismans there.

Coins

The name of the small pocket on jeans sounds like coin pocket, “pocket for coins.” Indeed, at the time when jeans were invented, paper banknotes were little used, coins were in use, because the price level was not the same as now - for 25 cents you could eat in a tavern. Therefore, the version that a pocket was specially sewn onto denim trousers, in which it is convenient to keep coins, is quite justified.

If you remember that jeans were worn by working people, it becomes clear that they did not need wallets and purses, and change did not spill out of a small, tight pocket.

Watch

The smallest detail of the jeans is also a swatch pocket. Therefore, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that a watch was previously kept in this pocket. We must pay tribute to this version, because in the 19th century they were mainly worn on a chain; wrist bracelets were not used. And if you remember that jeans were often used on construction sites or in land work, it becomes clear that a person might simply not have other pockets - they couldn’t be sewn onto a robe or a T-shirt. On the other hand, it is inconvenient to wear a pocket watch in this place, because while sitting, it can put pressure on the thigh and cause discomfort.

Little things

It is clear that the pocket on jeans was invented to put various small things in it, which sometimes need to be quickly taken out. It fits quite tightly to the body, so in order to remove something, it needs to be slightly expanded, but the thing will definitely not get lost. There are versions that it has a certain size so that a condom, guitar pick, or lighter fits into it.

It is believed that in the days of cowboys the size of the pocket corresponded to a Zippo lighter, since that was what the steppe guys loved. Now it is being adjusted to fit Criket, because lighters of this particular format are the most popular in the world.

Most likely, the pocket has already been used as needed. For example, in certain circles this detail of jeans is called a funny pocket or drugs pocket and illegal drugs are hidden there.

Surely we all know classic look jeans: straight legs and five pockets: one on each side in front and back and another small pocket protruding above the right front pocket. But not everyone knows what this small pocket on jeans is for.

Why a small pocket on jeans?

The first fifth pocket on jeans appeared in the Levi's 501 XX model almost 150 years ago, in 1873. By the way, at that time it was not the fifth, but the fourth pocket, since classic jeans of that time had only one pocket at the back, the second appeared later.

There are three main versions of why Levi's designers added this tiny pocket on the front. The most likely of them is that it was intended for wearing pocket watches on a chain, which at that time were much more widespread than now. On the jeans model of those times, this small pocket was slightly larger than we are used to seeing it now, and the watch would have fit in it quite well.

The second version of the appearance of this pocket is as follows: since jeans were then purely work clothes, it was stitched onto jeans for the convenience of workers. They could store various small things in it that were easy to lose. So, gold miners could put small nuggets there, and carpenters, for example, carnations.

Finally, the version that the pocket was intended for carrying is also popular. Zippo lighters, which at that time was used by most cowboys, whose main clothing was jeans. This version even explains the decrease in pocket size over time. Thus, after some time, the popular Zippo lighters were supplanted by Cricket lighters, which fit perfectly into a modern-sized pocket.

Why do you need a small pocket on jeans now?

Over time, the classic shape of jeans with five pockets became established, and more and more explanations appeared among people about what the smallest of them should be used for. So, at one time it was believed that it was suitable for storing small coins, which were then necessary for using payphones. Later, a version appeared that this was a pocket for a condom, since its packaging easily fit there. Many also carried a penknife in this pocket. Now this pocket is more of a tribute to the classic cut of old jeans than a truly functional device, but many continue to store various necessary little things in it: paper clips, packs of chewing gum, coins, a small amount of cash.