Bizzare Facts

If you wear denim jeans, you've likely wondered about that tiny, rectangular pocket tucked inside the main front pocket. It’s too small for a smartphone and awkward for coins. Its original purpose, however, dates back to the very first pair of **Levi's** in **1873**.

Levi Strauss designed the 'fifth pocket' specifically for **pocket watches**, which were the standard timekeeping device for cowboys, miners, and railroad workers of the era. The snug fit prevented the expensive watch from bouncing out or getting scratched during rough labor. While wristwatches eventually made pocket watches obsolete, the pocket remained as a signature design element of the classic 501 jean, surviving as a vestigial feature of 19th-century fashion.