Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. (more) Today in History—May 20: How Jeans Turned the Whole World Blue Written by Arpit Nayak Arpit Nayak is an editor at Encyclopedia Britannica. Arpit Nayak Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 18, 2026 •History On this day in 1873, two men were granted a patent for trousers reinforced with rivets—the origin of what we now call “jeans.” Today in History is a daily newsletter from Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Want to learn more about what happened on May 20, or any other day of the year? Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox every morning. One of those men was Levi Strauss, whose name is so deeply...

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