'Hidden detail' in Levi's jeans will show you if they could be worth a fortune

Levi's sells more than 1.25 billion pairs of blue jeans every year - but not all of the jeans are valued equally.

The iconic American brand was founded by German-Jewish immigrant Levi Strauss in May 1853, initially finding its customer base among the working people of the western US.

However, it was between the 1950s and 1980s that Levi's denim truly became a cultural staple, adopted by youth subcultures like greasers, mods, rockers, and hippies, fuelling a 'blue jeans craze'. Over time, Levi's has revamped its logo on eight separate occasions, but for collectors, the most coveted era is from 1956 to 1969 when the 'Big E' logo prevailed: Levi's name emblazoned in white capital letters against a red backdrop, with a distinctive sharp and slanted font mirroring the dynamism of the times.

Nowadays, these vintage pants with their classic 'Big E' tag fetch up to £8,000 on eBay as enthusiasts clamour for a piece of the 50s. Levi's themselves celebrate the timeless appeal of their vintage jeans on their website, stating: "You can't go wrong with a pair of vintage jeans. Not only are jeans a timeless fashion statement but they're also made to last, meaning that even an old pair of jeans can still be of a fantastic quality."

"Buying vintage clothing can also be a more sustainable way of shopping, because it saves you buying new or relying on fast fashion to fill your wardrobe. Vintage jeans are even better than new jeans, and finding yourself a great vintage pair just proves how long-wearing high-quality denim is."

Check what your jeans are worth:

To assist shoppers in determining the value of your jeans, Levi's has provided guidance on how to date your jeans by simply examining them:

Check if the word LEVI’S® is in all capital letters, or whether it has a small letter “e” instead. The Tab with LEVI’S (also known as “Big E”) means the jeans are from before 1971. Look for care tabs, which were introduced to Levi’s garments in the 1970s. Examine the inseams to check for a single stich running down the inner thigh. This is an indication that the jeans were made before the mid-1980s.