Levi Strauss brought the market know-how and Jacob Davis brought the copper rivet reinforcement. Together, they crafted an icon. RIVETED: THE HISTORY OF JEANS premieres Mon Feb 7 at 9/8c → pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/riveted-history-of-jeans | American Experience | PBS

On February 26, 1829, Levi Strauss was born in Bavaria. At the age of 18, he moved to the United States to run a dry goods store with his brothers in New York. During the California Gold Rush, Strauss traveled to San Francisco in 1854 to open a west coast branch to sell goods to gold miners. His business sold a variety of clothing items, including trousers made from canvas. Jacob W. Davis, one of Strauss’ customers and one of the inventors of riveted denim pants, went into business with Strauss