Key Stats
Founded: 1853 in San Francisco, California
Headquarters: Levi’s Plaza, San Francisco, California
CEO: Michelle Gass (since January 2024)
Employees: Approximately 18,000 worldwide
Stock Symbol: NYSE: LEVI
Levi Strauss & Co. is an American clothing company known worldwide for its Levi’s brand of denim jeans. The company designs, markets, and sells jeans, casual wear, and related accessories for men, women, and children.
During the California Gold Rush, founder Levi Strauss and Nevada tailor Jacob Davis patented the process of putting rivets in pants for strength. They called their reinforced work pants Levi jeans. The patent was granted on May 20, 1873, marking the birth of the blue jean.
Today, Levi Strauss & Co. operates in more than 110 countries through chain retailers, department stores, online platforms, and approximately 3,200 brand-dedicated stores and shop-in-shops. The company’s brands include Levi’s, Dockers, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., Denizen, and Beyond Yoga.
Levi Strauss History
1853
Company Founded
Levi Strauss opens a wholesale dry goods business in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush. He sells supplies to small stores throughout the American West.
1873
Blue Jean Patent
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive U.S. patent 139,121 for riveted clothing on May 20. The copper rivets reinforced points of strain, creating the modern blue jean.
1890
501 Designation
The company assigns lot numbers to its products. The famous “501” is assigned to the riveted waist-high overalls, later known as jeans.
1902
Founder’s Death
Levi Strauss passes away on September 26. His estate of nearly $6 million is left to four nephews and family members, with donations to local charities.
1985
Leveraged Buyout
The Haas family takes the company private through a $1.45 billion leveraged buyout, returning control to descendants of the founders.
1986
Dockers Launch
Levi Strauss introduces the Dockers brand of casual pants. The line becomes one of the most successful brand launches in American apparel history.
2019
NYSE Return
Levi Strauss returns to the New York Stock Exchange after 34 years as a private company, trading under the ticker symbol LEVI.
2021
Beyond Yoga Acquisition
Levi Strauss acquires activewear brand Beyond Yoga, entering the athletic apparel market with expected revenues exceeding $100 million annually.
Levi Strauss Co-founders
Levi Strauss
Born February 26, 1829, in Buttenheim, Bavaria. Emigrated to the United States in 1847 and established a dry goods business in San Francisco in 1853. He partnered with Jacob Davis to patent riveted pants in 1873. Strauss was also a philanthropist who funded 28 scholarships at UC Berkeley.
Jacob Davis
A Latvian-Jewish immigrant and tailor from Reno, Nevada. Davis invented the idea of using copper rivets to reinforce points of strain on work pants. Lacking funds to patent the idea alone, he partnered with Levi Strauss. Together they received the patent on May 20, 1873.
Levi Strauss Acquisitions
Levi Strauss & Co. has made strategic acquisitions throughout its history to expand product offerings and enter new markets. The company has focused on building brands that complement its core denim business.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Levi Strauss acquired Great Western Garment Co. (GWG), a Canadian clothing manufacturer. This acquisition brought the “stone-washed” jeans technique to the company, a finishing method still used today.
The 1979 purchase of Koracorp Industries Inc. added men’s and women’s sportswear to the Levi Strauss portfolio. Two years later, the company acquired Santone Industries Inc., a menswear manufacturer, continuing its expansion beyond jeans.
In August 2021, Levi Strauss announced the acquisition of Beyond Yoga, marking its entry into the activewear market. The deal was expected to contribute more than $100 million in annual net revenue.
In January 2020, the company acquired The Jeans Company (TJC) in the Andes region, expanding operations across Chile, Bolivia, and Peru with 82 retail stores in the region.
Levi Strauss Revenue
Levi Strauss & Co. generated $6.12 billion in revenue for fiscal year 2024. The company has maintained steady revenue growth since returning to public markets in 2019, despite challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Levi Strauss Marketcap
Levi Strauss & Co.’s market capitalization stands at approximately $8.9 billion as of February 2026. The company returned to public markets in March 2019 after 34 years as a private company.
Levi Strauss Competitors
Levi Strauss & Co. competes in the global denim and casual apparel market. The company faces competition from both traditional denim brands and fashion retailers that offer jeans as part of broader product lines.
| Company | Headquarters | Key Brands |
|---|---|---|
| VF Corporation | United States | The North Face, Vans, Timberland |
| Kontoor Brands | United States | Wrangler, Lee |
| Gap Inc. | United States | Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic |
| PVH Corp | United States | Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger |
| H&M Group | Sweden | H&M, COS, & Other Stories |
| Diesel | Italy | Diesel, Diesel Black Gold |
| G-Star RAW | Netherlands | G-Star RAW |
| Pepe Jeans | United Kingdom | Pepe Jeans London |
| True Religion | United States | True Religion |
| Carhartt | United States | Carhartt, Carhartt WIP |
FAQs
Who invented Levi’s jeans?
Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented riveted denim jeans. They received a U.S. patent on May 20, 1873, for the process of using copper rivets to strengthen pants at points of strain.
When was Levi Strauss & Co. founded?
Levi Strauss established his dry goods business in San Francisco in 1853. The company was formally incorporated as Levi Strauss & Co. in 1890 when it issued stock to family members and employees.
What brands does Levi Strauss own?
Levi Strauss & Co. owns Levi’s, Dockers, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., Denizen, and Beyond Yoga. The Levi’s brand accounts for the majority of the company’s revenue.
Where is Levi Strauss & Co. headquartered?
Levi Strauss & Co. is headquartered at Levi’s Plaza in San Francisco, California. The company was founded in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush and has remained based there.
Is Levi Strauss a public company?
Yes, Levi Strauss & Co. trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol LEVI. The company returned to public markets in March 2019 after being private since 1985.
