Repaired & Patched Levi’s 646 Jeans

By: Justin Roe

Type: Jeans

Date: Early 1970s (made)

Title: Repaired and patched Levi’s 646 jeans

Location: Humber College, Canada

Place of origin: Barrie, Ontario

Object details: Patches, Embroidery, Repairs

Categories: Fashion, Women’s clothes

Brief description: Levi’s orange tab 646 jeans, hand

stitched and repaired, 1971-1979

Physical description: Hand patched bell bottom jeans

Materials and technique: Denim, Patched, Repaired

Collection: Textiles and Fashion Collection

Personal Connection: Late Grandmother, Mother’s side

After purchasing her very first pair of bell bottoms for a mere $10 when she was a teenager, my grandma stuck with the same pair throughout her late teens and early twenties. Not only was style all the rage, it represented the fashion trends of the era. For my grandma it also was the pants she favored for the festivals and concerts she went to.

Reminiscing about her past, my grandmother would often tell stories about the teenage years she spent traveling and seeing various artists throughout the country. Though a simple garment, the $10 bell bottoms would become a symbol for the era of great music in America and the counterculture of youth at this time. These pants would be with her through countless adventures, with dirt stains, patches and edges which have frayed along the years they would witness the likes of Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones and many more in concert. This piece is a representation of the extreme care that went into preserving a piece of clothing and the free spirit of the youth at the time.

Although no longer fitting by her 30s, my grandma has kept this pair of jeans which she cherished so much as a representation of her youth and a time where her dreams and passions were at an all time high. Her decision to keep these jeans was a good one as to this day the pants are a work of art and truly a piece of 70s history. Unknowingly it would later be passed down as an heirloom to her grandson.

The jeans I am presenting here are originally a pair of Levi’s 646 made in America. These jeans can be dated through the back tab, Levis spelling and model number. Since the pair contains an orange colored tab we can identify that this pair is part of the levis fashion line, this is also apparent due to the missing leather tab which would commonly contain the jean’s model number. We can also observe the back tab’s spelling “Levis”, since the e on the tab is lowercase we can date this pair as post 1971. If the pair would have a capital E on the back tab it would be from 1969-1971. Lastly the 646 model number can be observed on the inner pocket lining, this model is the older pair of bell bottoms which were sold by Levi’s in the 70s, the other being the 684s.

The jeans, which were originally a dark rich shade of blue, have weathered throughout so many washes over time. This has caused the original blue shade to completely fade along the years, creating this beautifully faded light blue wash. Though the original color has mostly dissipated, it can still be seen slightly near the side stitching and around the crotch area. These jeans contain nine patches in total, with one being handmade along the bottom left leg. Each patch on the jeans are rightfully unique and are made from various materials, such as printed cotton, corduroy, denim, and cloth.These patches give an entire new array of colors to the jeans, almost giving it a new life.

Furthermore, the jeans exhibit clear signs of tender care and maintenance, evident in the repairs along the zipper and the side stitching running along the thighs. These jeans embodied the style of the free spirited hippies during the early 70s. Hippies had strong beliefs on preservation and artistic expression, these jeans are a telltale example of that. These jeans are a clear indication of the time and love that my grandmother put into the preservation of these pants.

These jeans hold immense significance to me because not only were they owned by my late grandma but they also represented one of my favorite periods in the world of fashion and music, the 1970s. I feel like they encapsulate an entire era of counterculture, artistic expression and a blend of fashion and great music. This remarkable pair of denim, passed down to me by my grandmother, is more than just a heirloom, it’s a connection to a period in history which remains as one of the most free spirited and significant in pop culture. Without a doubt, this pair of jeans stands as my most cherished family heirlooms and I hope to further preserve and display the jeans for future generations.