Who invented blue jeans?

The first jeans were brought to market in 1873 by Levi Strauss, who was a 24-year-old immigrant from Germany. Eventually sold to miners, the jeans were fashioned from heavy canvas that was used for making wagon covers and tents.

The original material used made the jeans itchy and caused chafing, so Strauss added a French fabric called serge de Nimes. Later, this material would become known as denim and the pants would be called blue jeans.

Levi Strauss & Company is still in business as of August 2014. Levis Strauss received a patent on May 20, 1873, for his jeans and the riveting process he helped create that gave the pants superior strength.