I guess I’m very late on this one. Incredible video that Michel Gondry made for Levis. It has a great feel, and really looks old.

Wikipedia:

According to the Guinness World Records 2004, Michel Gondry’s Levi’s 501 Jeans “Drugstore” spot holds the record for “Most awards won by a TV commercial”.[2] The commercial was never aired in North America because of the suggestive content involving purchasing latex condoms.

I haven’t seen it before. It looks interesting.
Does anyone have it? Is it worth getting?

Here’s the article:
http://outside.away.com/outside/culture/200901/brit-eaton-hunting-for-vintage-denim-1.html

You may remember seeing Brit in the Blue Jean Confidential documentary by CBC.

It’s quite an exciting article with interesting stories about remote places and funny characters.

Perhaps when I get through my shelf of reading material I might get Rinella’s book on the American Bison/Buffalo.

On a side note: I saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which has some interesting wardrobe viewing.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421715/

“Filmmakers worked closely with Levi’s to obtain clothing items from their Levi’s Vintage Clothing collection to authenticate various time periods captured throughout the film.”

If you’re time-poor, then I’d recommend watching the Godfather rather than Benjamin Button.

I guess that it is somewhat like the shorpy blog, but this is more commercial and more professional. You also have a search function.

Anyway, I went trawling through the archive to find some photos to show you:

Cowboy Ralph Wellard sporting some decent cuffs. 1943

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=37f64b8c05e7f9ef

Unnamed cowboy with cloth to stop lip burn. I thought it was to rob a bank. Also note his shirtcuff extension. I need something like that for Japanese sized shirts. 1939
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5a22844ec3edffbe

Navy Pilots in flight jackets 1952
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?imgurl=f6f1eee8260e1345

More Pilots 1952
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=91a7d774dc06cf2c
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=b9a23009786d7d6f
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=f5e8295f096871e4
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=ea8a3e33310e92ba
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=daca14dcb779f873

Ranchers 1952
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=e1de635e53430bef

Col. Henry Russell Spicer. Nice pipe! 1948
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=63fdb4ab81f26f22

Gregory Peck for the movie “Twelve O’Clock High”. 1950

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=d660059041507863

More Pilots 1942 – 1961
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=007345c0fd37383d
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=8f97d4d66adc9ff8
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=2df2d9a22804ee9b
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=e38ad9f2ff38b84d
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=493750aaf35954eb
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=c7a196265900100e

Captain Bus Loane formerly of the Flying Tigers. Nice cardigan, and carrying his A-2. 1948
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=a926a341f4c4968b

Girl Pilot. I love her cap.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=fd4b9de0d2a6ea82

Excellent texture in this photo of a dude in denim overalls playing the spoons. 1941

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=27e10ffafe9bedeb

Overalls and a train cap? 1955
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=74e2128455b69006

The Overalls Band. Perhaps it’s the same dude playing the spoons. 1941
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=7acbd2bbadd67a66

Earl Nesbitt in cowboy boots.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=4f85c40239883738

Girls in Denim and Saddle Shoes. Those shoes are spectacular.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=5299f1f0e75271ee

A Girl combining those saddle shoes with the cap from further above.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/f?imgurl=1c43d32b09cad14b
She’s awesome. Look at the eyelets on those shoes.

Anyway, Ethan dropped the Japanese term “Furugiya”. I hadn’t heard of this word before, so I did a bit of research:

Furugiya (???)
Furugi (??)

It seems to define second-hand clothing & vintage clothing. I’m trying to work out if the term can also be applied to replica clothing (ie. clothes which replicate vintage, but are brand new).

Post a comment if you can help with the definition.

Dan gave me a good Japanese lesson in the comments, so I’m adding it here so people don’t miss out:

i think you probably figured out that “furu” means old and that “gi” means clothing or outfit. you may have heard someone refer to their martial arts robe as a gi.”ya” means shop: soba-ya, sushi-ya, tempura-ya, ramen-ya etc.
blah blah blah.
i think the term you’re looking for with regard to reproductions is “furugi no hukusei” which translates to “vintage looking”. hukusei is reproduction.
in japanese: ?????

Thanks Dan.

Makes me want to start my Japanese classes again.

The Shorpy Blog has amazing pictures from circa 1900, back when denim jeans were being invented. These pictures really get you thinking about how different our lives are compared to 100 years ago.

Shorpy Blog

From the subtitles the top jeans in his collection appear to be:
1880 501
1937 501XX
1902 501XX
1920 201
1910 333
1910 501XX

As Indiana Jones always said about old artefacts… “It belongs in a museum“.