Ever wonder about that little pocket on your jeans? The one sitting just above the larger front pocket, to which most are oblivious. It’s small, seemingly inconsequential, yet there it is on almost every pair of jeans you own. So what’s the deal with it? Why is it there, and does it even have a purpose anymore?
That little pocket does have a pretty cool history. While its original use may have faded, it’s still found ways to be useful today. Let’s look at the history of this mysterious small pocket and find out what it’s really for.
A Brief History of Jeans
Before the pocket, let’s talk about the jeans. As we know, denim jeans were born in the 1800s courtesy of Levi Strauss. With the tailor Jacob Davis, Strauss’s idea was to make durable pants for hardworking men like miners and laborers during the Gold Rush in the American West.
In 1873, Strauss patented his riveted jeans design, which reinforced the most common stress points on pants to make them last longer. These rugged-style riveted denim trousers soon became a favorite among laborers, those who needed garments that could withstand very heavy work. Just like that, the blueprint for jeans as we know them today was born.
The Small Pocket
So, where does that small pocket come in? Believe it or not, it had a particular purpose when it was first introduced: it was designed to hold a pocket watch.
Until the late 1800s, wristwatches were rare. On the other hand, men carried pocket watches—most of them connected with a chain hanging from their vests or trousers. Levi’s original jeans had this little pocket—often called a “watch pocket”-so that when working, men could safely tuck their pocket watches away.
This pocket was precisely the right size to hold the watch comfortably and protectively so that it could not jostle around when a man was bending, digging, or riding his horse. To cowboys, miners, and ranchers, this was the perfect location for one of life’s essentials of the time: a reliable timepiece.
When the Watch Became a Wristwatch
With the coming of the 20th century, pocket watches gave way to wristwatches. By the 1920s, wristwatches had become cheaper and more practical for the average person, eliminating the need for a specialized pocket in clothing just for a watch. But that small pocket remained on jeans, even as pocket watches disappeared from everyday life.
Why didn’t it disappear, too? Well, it seems it was just the size for many other things. As time passed, it became known as a “coin pocket” because of how well and conveniently it was for holding small change. Others called it a “ticket pocket,” where one would put their train or bus ticket. It even had a not-so-nice-named “condom pocket,” but, well, you get the idea.
Its function was never fixed. The little pocket remained only because, while it was born for specific reasons, people used it in numerous unforeseen ways.
So, What Do We Use It For Nowadays?
Although pocket watches have long since faded into history, the small pocket on your jeans hasn’t. As a matter of fact, it is still very functional and can be used every day. Here’s how you can make more use of that tiny pocket in your pants, which you may never have thought of:
Loose Change: This is still a great spot to keep a couple of coins in case you are using cash and want to avoid your change clinking around with your keys or phone.
Keys: If you’re a minimalist and only have one or two keys, keeping them safe and separate from everything else is pretty easy.
Earbuds: For all those using earbuds to listen to music or podcasts while on the move, this pocket is just about the best place to hide them when not in use.
Tiny Tools: If one works in the trade, a small pocket may be just right for holding mini tools, such as a small pocket knife, a lighter, or a multitool.
USB drives: In this present generation of electronic devices, this small pocket can hold something as advanced as a USB drive. It’s cozy and safe; you don’t have to dig around for it.
Rings/ Jewelry: That small pocket comes in handy if you need a safe place to stick your wedding ring or any other small jewelry for a short period, like when washing your hands.
Personal Safety Items: Some people use this pocket to carry small but important personal safety items, like a whistle or pepper spray. Its accessibility makes it convenient for use in an instant.
Why Is It Still There?
It is a good question, and the answer might be that no one uses those small pockets for pocket watches anymore, so why do jeans still have them?
The answer is one word: tradition.
Although the need for this has long gone, that little pocket has become an iconic feature of denim design. Levi Strauss & Co. kept it on, and so have other denim brands, as a homage to history and jeans’ working-class origins. In this world of constant change in fashion, some things remain in their place simply because they are part of the culture, and that little pocket became a signature detail.
It is also interesting to note that, for its size, the pocket is practical in many real-world situations. Creative people have learned ways to use it over the decades, and so long as it remains useful—even if in small ways—it’s likely to remain.
How Designers Have Played with the Pocket
Competing brands have played around with the small pocket’s size, shape, and even placement, while Levi’s has clung to tradition. For example, big-ticket fashion houses like Gucci and Balmain have even used the small pocket as a design feature, incorporating it into high-end denim lines. It is often dressed up with studs, stitching, or another design feature to make it pop out as a functional and stylistic detail.
Meanwhile, other brands such as Wrangler and Diesel also reimagine the little pocket for modern consumers, focusing on usefulness. For example, Wrangler sells the pocket as a perfect spot for multitools or small gadgets, especially for outdoor employees or those facing rough work conditions.
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