This is the pair the fades collectors chase. Medium indigo 501xx, the cotton worn to honeycomb behind the knees and whiskered at the lap from a body that actually moved in them. Button fly, the 501xx leather patch, made in the U.S.A. The denim has that dry, breaking-down hand that only comes from years and not a stonewash machine. A long inseam, too — L36, the hard one to find.
The Story
The leather patch reads 501xx — the "xx" designation Levi's carried from its earliest premium denim, and the care tag still warns the jean "shrinks approximately," the language of shrink-to-fit cotton. W33 L36, WPL 423, Made in U.S.A. The natural fades — honeycombs, whiskers, the high points worn pale — are the real reason this pair matters: years of wear written into the cloth, the thing reproductions try to print on.
Details
Brand: Levi's
Size: Tagged W33 L36 (501xx)
Era: 1990s
Made in: USA
The Piece
Medium indigo with natural honeycomb/whisker fades
100% cotton
Button fly
501xx straight leg, long inseam
Five-pocket, red tab, leather patch
Measurements
Waist: ~16.5" flat (~33")
Inseam: ~36"
Rise: ~11.5"
Leg opening: ~8"
Condition
Very Good — Beautiful natural fading throughout; no holes or notable stains. The wear is the point.
