WWII Levi’s Jacket Sets World Record
The denim jacket, showing signs of wartime fabric rationing, made the Guinness Book of World Records for its astonishing price.
Denim is one thing that gets more stylish as it gets older. Fashion fans will tell you that vintage denim, whether it’s in the form of jeans or jackets, is even cooler than the newest styles. They’re also willing to pay high prices for authentic vintage pieces. Earlier this month, Guinness World Records reported that a Japanese company paid 55 million Yen (about £260,590, or $349,190) for a vintage Levi’s jacket, making it the most expensive second-hand non-memorabilia denim jacket.
The jacket is a S506XXE, a style made during World War II. By that time, Levi Strauss & Co. had been making denim jackets for decades; the company invented the first riveted denim jacket in the 1870s. It was made during World War II and has several features that were necessitated by rationing. Instead of the pleated back that Levi’s used for its original jackets, it has a split back that made efficient use of fabric by using two pieces sewn together. Levi’s left the pocket flaps off its jackets at the time, another way to save fabric. The donut buttons helped conserve metal, too. The jacket isn’t just a classic style; it’s a reminder of how the war affected everyday life and required sacrifices, even small ones, from all.
The extreme rarity of finding an old jacket in near-mint condition adds to its value. The leather patch inside its collar is intact, and the lot number and size are still legible.
The company that purchased it, FIVESTAR Inc., is a beauty salon group. CEO Masayuki Sasaki acknowledged that a denim jacket might sound like an odd purchase for them, but stated, “Beauty isn’t limited to hair and cosmetics. Clothing, environment, movement, time all contribute to beauty. I hope that with this event, we can create opportunities to take Japanese aesthetics further to the stage of world culture.”
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