By Kristen Philipkosk / Source: Eat, Sleep, Denim

Being a San Franciscan, I always took pride in the fact that jeans were invented right here in my hometown. But what I never knew is that, technically, jeans were invented in Reno by a tailor named Jacob Davis.

Levi Strauss had a dry goods and clothing importing business in San Francisco, when Davis, a regular customer, shared with him his rivet-reinforced denim “waist overalls.” He didn’t have the money to file for a patent, so he suggested that Strauss become his partner. They were granted the patent together, and Davis oversaw the manufacturing operation, according to History.com.

If you happen to be in Reno, an exhibit that opened this week at the National Automobile Museum titled “Denim: Cool Rags and Rides,” honors Davis, and features a collection of rare blue jeans from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Bonus: an early 1970s special AMC “Levi’s” edition of the Gremlin, complete with denim-upholstered will also be on display.

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