Levi's® Vintage Clothing Limited-Edition 1942 501® Rigid

Launching 3rd Sep
1 item per customer

Old-world construction meets the heavier denim that would define the 501® for decades.

Reproduced stitch for stitch from the original 1942 501®, this hand-numbered limited edition is Made in Japan from Japanese denim.

In 1942, as America stood on the threshold of full wartime mobilization, the 501® was quietly undergoing a transformation of its own. Heavier denim was beginning to replace the lighter weights of earlier decades, while construction details from an older era remained. The result was a garment that existed in two worlds at once: the fabrication of the future with the soul of the past.

This precise stitch-for-stitch reproduction captures that rare moment. The cinch back remains, complete with its buckle and distinctive opposing-direction construction. The yoke seam is inverted, sitting over the leg panel rather than beneath it. Hidden rivets, a single-needle arcuate, a single-sided Big E Red Tab, and the Two Horse leather patch complete the details.

Crafted with 12 oz. shrink-to-fit red selvedge denim, this 1942 501® reflects the heavier weight that was just arriving on the scene. Within a year or two, wartime restrictions would remove the cinch back entirely, making this unique combination of old-world construction and new-world cloth a fleeting chapter in 501® history.

- Style: 1942 501® Limited-Edition
- Fit: Regular fit - Straight leg - Midrise
- Color: Indigo
- Material: 100% cotton
- Made from 12oz Japanese selvedge denim
- Stitch-for-stitch vintage construction
- Hidden rivets and button fly
- Cinch-back waist
- Big E Red Tab
- Leather waistband patch
- Authentic 1940s-inspired detailing
- Designed to develop a unique fade and character with wear
- Hand-numbered
- Made in Japan

Our model is 180cm, 80kg - wears size 32/32