Levi's sports white knots in support of gay marriage
Bruce Watson
May 27th 2009 at 5:00PMText SizeAAAFiled under: Entrepreneurship, Extracurriculars, Charity, Relationships
Now that Memorial day has passed, Levi's has begun outfitting its mannequins in white. This year, however, the bright color doesn't just represent the beginning of the summer or a nice accent for denim. Rather, the jean giant has also begun using white to demonstrate its support for gay marriage.

The White Knot program encourages people to demonstrate their solidarity with marriage equality by wearing a small piece of knotted white ribbon. A subtle symbol, white knots have appeared on the clothing of celebrities ranging from New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg to comedienne Kathy Griffin. And now, of course, they are appearing on hundreds of Levi's mannequins.



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Levi's strongly supported the anti-hunting philosophy. They have since tried to back off that approach.

I'll never buy another Levi product, and suggest that the members here do the same.

Screw 'em!.

Steve

Levi Straus Company has certainly changed since I started buying them in the 1950's. But then, it is headquartered in San Francisco.

I quite buying anything made by, or sold by Levi years ago. I hardly wear jeans anymore these days.

Remember when levis WAS the real cowboy jean? some of the old timers still sport them, like my uncle, he calls wranglers "nut crushers"! i am sure he wouldnt like to read this thread. i know i didnt, i'm a country boy, but wrangler is just out of the question. guess i'll have to go back to dungaree's

What about Lee? Wranglers are gawdawful uncomfortable.

Carhartts? Hold up better than both.

Levis are a fad that will last forever but not for me. I buy what ever has enough room in the ass for my ass and enough room in the crotch for Little George and his pals. It's all about comfort.

g

Ditto for Carhartts. Tough as nails and won't break the pocketbook.

Lee's or Carhart's, Dickies aren't half bad either. I get the Dickies on post for about 13.00 a pair, and they last longer than wranglers, wouldn't know about Levi's as I haven't had a pair since I graduated high school in 1988. Les

I've always worn wranglers. Heard about Levis funny thinking. Never liked them much anyway.

Support for Gay marriage, Man I just don't understand this Country anymore. God help us.

Hell Ford supports Gay Marriage too, but most folks are gonna start buying fords as GM and Dodge are on a downward spiral.

A lot of denim used in Wranglers is still woven and finished in the US, most of it manufactured by Mt Vernon Mills in Georgia and Texas. It is cut and sewn in central america or mexico.

Most, if not all, Carhartt denim and bull denim (canvas) is woven, cut, and sewn in the US. Again, most of it woven and finished by Mt Vernon Mills.

Levi closed all of it's US based operations, and went totally off shore some years back.

Dear Levi Strauss,

Kiss my Dickies.

Thank you.

CARHARTTS............
Quit Levis years ago when I really started caring where my money went and who it supported.
What is that cowboy jean that has a U crotch for extra room? Always wanted to try those.

Haven't bought anything by Levi Straus in a Coon's Age, ever since they anounced their Anti-Hunting/Gun Leanings. As a matter of fact I try to refrain from buying anything made or sold by any California Company if at all possible.

i wear Wranglers or Carharts, have since i was 11 or 12......Levi's never fit me very well.....

I like having the big seam on the outside of your leg, and I didn't know about the denim being made in the USA...good on Wrangler...I wear 'em

Wrangler.

Alan

Used to like levis , they fit me best and were the most comfortable for me to wear.
Gone from 32" waist to a 29" over the last few years. Seems only wrangler makes them that skinny . Wearing my wangler 29x32 s right now.

Worn Wranglers since high school. There's a little more space between the W's now though.

Mike

Carhartts and Dickies for me. Quit wearing Levi's when the fit and their political leanings went south(West? Left?)

I try to support products/comapanies that don't at the very least undermine my values.

I'll go against the grain on this one....Levi's for me as they fit me better.
I hate Wranglers

Wranglers. I there good enough for Brett, there good enough for me.

Carhartts. Anything else is, well, just WRONG.

Carhartt's for work.

Wranglers for riding.

[quote=rosco1]Remember when levis WAS the real cowboy jean? some of the old timers still sport them, like my uncle, he calls wranglers "nut crushers"!

old class mate of mine use to say " There like a cheep hotel, theres no ball room."

In 1946 I had a paper route in southern California.

Earnings from first month I bought my Mom a jewel box. Second month a Daisey Red Ryder BB gun. Third month a pair of real Levi's!

I haven't worn Levis in about 30 years.

Wranglers ever since.

At a rodeo see what the contestants are wearing.

i quit buying levis years ago when their pro-gay/anti-hunting position was publicized.

Who cares what company supports what? Wranglers are for poseurs! Levi's 501's with the 'Folsom cuff' is how I roll!

I like my white Wrangler cut-offs, as they make my package look good!














(grin)

Seriously though, I wear the Arizona brand jeans as lots of others don't fit me right. The old Buddy Lee "can't bust em" jeans are pretty good too. Screw Levi's.

Been wearing Lee's for a lot of years, see no reason to change.
Haven't worn Levis since high school

Been wearing Wranglers for more years than I can count.

Funny, took you to be a Lee man.

I wear Levi's and will continue to do so, I could give a [bleep] what or who they support as long as they continue to make the 501's.

I haven't owned a pair of any brand of jeans in 15 years. I've got quads like tree trunks and hated trying to find a pair of jeans with room in the thighs that didn't fall off my skinny ass.

Unless I'm hunting I wear shorts year round. Doesn't matter what the weather. During hunting season I wear some fleece BDU style pants.

Jeans suck!

Have worn Wranglers since before they started sponsoring Dale Earnhardt in the early eighties. How-be-it they are a few sizes larger than they were then.

Living in ranching and rodeo country it is tough to find anything but Wranglers on working people, both guys and gals. Carhartt is starting to make some inroads but students at the local university are about the only ones that wear anything else than Wranglers or Carhartt.

Wranglers or Carhartts here.

Quit wearing Levis back in the 80's when I was a Scoutmaster and they stopped supporting the Boy Scouts of America because we banned gay Scout leaders.

Carhartt and Dickies made in the USA. Those other guys can shove it.

I also have a problem of large thighs, and Carhartts are now my main brand, though I do still have a few pairs of Wranglers. Levis have never really been available in sizes that fit me since I was in high school...44x34 is kinda tough to find.

Carharts.

BMT

Diamond cut is the brand. Extremely comfortable. They are all I wear except for hunting then it is the camo wranglers. But I have to go a size larger with the wranglers to get even close to the comfort level of the diamond cut through the crotch.

Lee's, Wranglers and Carhartts. Since I retired I live in jeans.

Went from Levis to Wranglers years ago because they fit me better. Wore a lot of Lees at one time, but they were always hard to find in my neck of the woods.

Yup! Me too. I have a lifelong boycott underway of some things including anything made by Levi Strauss. My body has never been clothed in a 'Dockers' pants or shirt either!

Any company that openly promotes QUEERS and homesexuality and bashes organizations like the Boy Scouts looses me as a customer. Will I make or break them? Certainly not! But I can hope more and more [real] Americans will wake up and do the same thing.

Gonna have to try some of those Dickies and Carharts.

If Wranglers looked right, I'd buy them. They don't fit.

ditto, and after reading this whole thing, learning new stuff & considering what I know of the fit & style of them all..

from now on it's carhartts for me.

Carhartts wear like iron but I love the fit of the 501s. I'm going to have to rethink buying anymore of the 501s.

Been wearing Lee since I was a kid and now at 66 years young I can't find them. Carharts (some of them) are now made in Mexico.
Tried some Wranglers and they felt OK so I guess that is what it will be in the future. Never did like Levi and I sure won't buy them because of their stance on guns and sex.

Mr. 257wby;
I recall reading about the Levi's company supporting gun control years ago and never bought anything they made since.

Mostly I live in some sort of Wrangler jeans these days, cheap ones for work and Pro Rodeo's to church. I resort to Carhartt bibs when cutting firewood, pitching bales or working outside around the place.

Thanks for the interesting thread.

Regards,
Dwayne

Toughskins

Or is it Tuffskins?

Wranglers for me...........better product today for less money; a no brainer.

All the politics involved, just makes the decision sweeter.

MM

I used to wear Levi's all the time, had many pair. Once I heard their stance on Boy Scouts and Guns/Hunting I never bought another pair.
Besides REAL Cowboys wear Wranglers, at least they did when I lived in Tucson.
I don't have a single article of clothing that has the Levi name on it, including shirts.
I won't break them either, but they have lost "some" income from me.

Amen Brother.

I don't understand all of this "they support queers" crap. I mean, homosexuality is gross to me, but as long as I'm not involved in doing it and I don't have to watch someone do it-who cares? I wouldn't screw a fat chick either, but I have no problem with people that choose/have to do it. Seriously guys, we are all "sportsmen" here, aren't we? It's these kinds of ignorant and intolerant statements that make us look like a bunch of pistol packin' inbreeders. How do we expect anyone to listen about our second amendment rights, when all we do is bash the president because he is a coon, or boycott Levi's because they support homosexuals? Really guys, I do like to joke around about minorities, homo's, whatever. But when it comes to outright hatred of someone because of what they do with their genitals...come on! My wife has a gay friend, and I'll tell you what-you want to talk about a funny son-of-a-bitch! I really don't care what his sexual preferences are, he is a nice person and my wife's friend, so screw anyone that hates him because of his orientation. Next we'll be bashing Jews and putting them in camps....again.

Wranglers for me thank you. Loose fitting version fit well around my, err, "husky" mid section.

Blacktail308

Those are "Diamond Gussets" i believe. Bought a pair. They are ok. NOT made oversea and only a little more than some, less than others.

p2tharizo: By any chance are you a Liberal Democrat? Maybe move to Arizona from San Francisco?
I lived in Arizona 30 years and the only ones I ever met that talked like that moved in from California.

Apparently you don't realize that MOST sportsmen hold dear MOST traditional American values. Don't even try to draw a comparison between prejudice against [bleep] and Jews ... universes of distance separate the two. No one here really wants to hear about your [bleep] friend either.

You're a queer bird for sure Is your prez a coon? Please open the door and I will walk in...

g

And thus, the problem with America today. Far too many followers and "I don't give a $hitters" and not enough leaders.

Mike

wranglers

+1. I couldn't care less what they do amongst themselves, but I'm sick and tired of having it forced on the rest of us, and told we have to "accept" it. The Bible says it's an abomination, and it is. I don't care if the whole world supports it. I don't, and don't want to hear about it.

As for Levi Strauss, I saw a full page ad by them in a newspaper about 15 years ago, wherein they stated that it's time "we" all stand up against guns, and that if any of us like and want to keep guns, we're just gonna have to get over it and forget all this nonsense about the 2A, etc. I was at my parents' house when I read it, and I went home and burned all my Levis jeans, Dockers, etc. I had worn Levis all my life. I haven't bought a Levis product since, and I've told quite a few others over the years about their stance, too.
Wranglers has a cheaper sub-brand called Rustler, and one version of Rustlers is made of the old fashioned, stiff as a board, blue denim. I buy those. They were under $10 until fairly recently, and they soften and become comfortable with repeated washing, and last a long time. For awhile I bought Wranglers, but Rustlers outlast them and are 2/3 the price.

I guess what it says about me is that I'm frugal and principled. Or maybe it's cheap and hardnosed. I can live with that.

BTW, to p2whatever, I don't "bash Obama because he is a coon". To me, a coon is a creature that steals dogfood and anything else it gets its paws on, not a person. I wouldn't care if Obama was purple; I don't support him because he is a socialist and a liar. I don't support McCain either, and for exactly the same reason. So don't come over here calling me a racist. I do support Dr. Alan Keyes, and he is twice as black as Obama. If they wanted a black president, they had 3 chances to elect Dr. Keyes. But they can't handle him because he tells the truth.

Wrangler, like just about every jean maker, makes different styles of jeans. You are likely able to find a style that is comfortable for your frame and preference.

Probably at one time all Wrangler made is what is called "13MWZ" which is the original cowboy-cut jean.

take those to the dry cleaner, get them starched and pressed and you're stylin'!

The saying at the arena is *Wrangler butts drive chicks nuts*!

I know it's true!

All you have to do is stop yourself.

I buy Sportman's Guide jeans. @ $15 a pair - 13.5 oz, riveted jeans - wear like hell... as good as or better than Levis, Lees, or Wranglers.

Besides, those Cambodian kids in the sweatshops need a living, and they just don't care about this queer/[bleep]/lesbo stuff... Nor do I. Stick to making clothes- avoid the politics/PC crap.

Damned good pants.

Who is we'll? Last I checked we freed em, rather than put them.

I dropped buying all Levi products in my household in 1988 when Levi Strauss declared war on the Boy Scouts of America (I was on the local BSA district committee then). Levi can do what they want with their money, but Levi also bullied/pressured Bay Area United Way to drop the BSA in spite of other Bay Area companies wanting to support the local BSA. I switched to Wranglers back then (they are a NC based company too) but I buy Carhart products too. It does matter who you spend your money with.

No I didn't move from California. I'm a 5th generation Arizonan for your information. I'm about fed up with this forum, so much closed minded conversations going on here. Doesn't the bible teach tolerence? That's cute that you use the bible to justify you hatred. I prefer to think that my God teaches tolerence.

Plenty of Arizonans would have to change their way of thinking if they moved next door to this Californian....

Thanks for the heads up guys.

I'll never buy another pair of Levi's ever again.

Wrangler here. Can't get the folks that say they don't fit. As someone said, they make 20 kinds of jeans. They are the most comfortable jean I've ever worn.

Carharts for work, Wranglers for casual and play.

I live in boots and jeans...

i really dont care bout gays.....dont care if a company supports them....no skin off my nose and what two adults do in a bedroom is no business of mine....however Levi has proven to be anti gun....aint no way im supporting that......

Now that, I can respect.

No, the Bible certainly does not teach tolerance of sin. And I said nothing whatsoever about hatred. I said I do not accept that activity, and that it is an abomination, which is a quote from the Bible. The Bible also says he that lets will continue to let until he be taken out of the way. To me, "let" means to accept sin. We don't have the right to stop others from sinning (remember, I said I couldn't care less what they do amongst themselves) but we have the duty of not perpetuating it by welcoming it into our lives.
This is what I believe in. Do not berate me for my beliefs, while giving me that typical leftist line about "tolerance". You can't even spell it correctly, let alone have any understanding of its meaning.

To me, repeating leftist dogma is the very epitome of "closed minded". And since you're about fed up with this forum, welcome to the door. You won't be missed; it's not like you're saying anything original.

Wore Levi's for about 25 years cause they were the cool thing to wear and I was young and dumb.

Have worn Wranglers the last 30, cause they fit better and are much more comfortable to me.

Levi Struass is openly anti-gun.
You couldn't sell me a Levi product on a bet, or any product from any company that is anti-gun, if I know it.

Downright impressive Tracy. Excellent.

Same here!!!!!!

Frankly, I don't much care what two people do in the privacy of their bedroom. It's none of my damn business. It only becomes my business if they physically try to force it upon me. Then the two of us will have to go to the hospital. Him to get my boot out of his ass and me to get my boot back.

With that said, I quit buying Levi Strauss products at least as far back as 1960, and maybe as early as 1958 or 1959 because of their anti-gun and anti-hunting stances. When I was married to my first wife, she gave me two pair of Levis for my birthday. I had her return and exchange them for Wranglers. Pissed her off a whole bunch. She didn't much care for guns which was one of the easons for the parting of the ways.
Someone made a comment about transplanted Californians. I was born and raised in San Francisco, [bleep] capitol of California. I left in 1970 because of the strong anti-gun crap of Ms.Feinstein.
I wouldn't paint all people from the land of nuts, fruits and flakes with all that wide a brush. There are some very conservative people there, even in SF who sadly are outnumbered by the weirdos.
I would imagine that there are some who feel they should be killed on sight. I'm not kidding. My ex-boss would in his own words stated, "I feel all homosexuals should be burned alive." A bit far out, I admit, but he would fly into a rage anytime their was stuff on the news about gay rights. He'd be as sore as a boil for at least a week afterwards. I considered myself lucky if I was on a night shift during those times.
So, I'll buy Wrangles and Levi Strauss can take a flying leap at a splintery knothole.
Paul B.

Wranglers and Lees are owned by the same company, VF, Inc. (formerly Vanity Fair I think) I stop at a VF Outlet store (http://www.vfoutlet.net/locations.html)when ever I get near one and load up factory direct. Some clothing is seconds, but then I'm kinda wore out, too. VF has lots of other brands you'll recognize, too. http://www.vfc.com/brands

carhartt or arbor wear here!

I wear a lot of off brands with plain pockets ... like JC Penny's St. John's Bay or GAP (been a very long time since I wore GAP though) and it used to be I could find good jeans at Old Navy, but they stopped making them and went silly kid trendy. I have some Lee dungarees, Carhatts, etc (I always cut the hammer loop off to keep from snagging). Never could get into the W. Most important is comfort and simple design ... no gaudy pockets or huge brand logos for me. The best blue jeans I ever had were a pair of St. Johns ... fit real well and the denim was very thick and strong. I wore them into oblivion.

This thread reminded me to go out To Wallyworld and replace a couple pair of my old Wranglers today.

Same here. Catch some pretty good deals at VF Outlet, especially on end of season closeouts.

Wrangler Bell Bottoms-

There's an oxyMORON for ya.

I was Levi's in High School, Wranglers in college, Dickies in grad-school, and now I'm in whatever is cheapest that comes along.

http://www.stillmadeinusa.com/jeans.htm

Carhartt

i was a levi's guy 'til i got fat. wrangler 13mwz nowadays.

Wore Levi's Until they reached the $30 plus price tag, then switched to Wrangler 13mwz. I can get Wrangler's for $19 to $20 a pair. Watched them go from made in the USA, to made in Costa Rica, and now made in Mexico. Imagine that.

I wear Wrangler 13MWZ made in Mex. from American products. Also wear Carhartt B11's made in Nicaragua according to the label.

I know places in this state that had sewing plants that made both products. This before moving out of the country. At least I buy them at Tractor Supply Company, which is a TN Co.

Back when I was in HS and college, I used to wear Sedgefield jeans...haven't seen or heard of them for years.

There has not bee a Levi product in my home for years. Will not support them because of the trash they support. Last time I saw their web site they had a ban all firearms petition and on the same page encouraged everyone to support a music group that sang or rather shouted Cop Killer music (?). That and their bashing the BSA for their not allowing pedophiles as scout leaders. Nope,they don't get another penny from me.

Just checked out their website. Front page has a guy looking all [bleep]. Don't think many folks on this site can relate ... at least not without first checking their balls in with the local rainbow coalition chapter.

Prison Blues claim to be 100% U.S fabric and (inmate) manufactured. Sounds like a useful program making quality products @ fair prices. Might be worth trying for my next jeans purchase.

About 1/2 the crew at work wear those. Seem to hold up about as well as anything else

So now the few US textile workers that are left have to compete against susidized prison labor in their own country. I'm not against prisoners learning a trade, but something is wrong with kind of competition.

I just looked at a pair that I like to figure out what brand they are -- All I can find is that they are made with RipStop material (you can see the little squares in the fabric) And the have a big "R" for a logo. I get them at a nearby lumberyard for about $25.00 and they last. I've got about a dozen pair now. They don't come in blue, but do come in camo, khaki, tan, green, and brown.

Before that I usually bought Wrangler carpenters for work. I buy them a little larger than I need, and keep them up with a belt. Leg swinging room is real important if you live on a scaffold -- way better than climbing stuff all day in snug jeans.

Other than that, Wrangler boot cuts for going out in.


Wrangler carpenter shorts are good too when it's nice out.

Hairy and the twins vote for carharrt jeans and liberty bibs

It is interesting to see the ire for a clothier that supports gay marriage and lifestyles, yet so many of the same people around "The Fire" will still own and wear "Patagonia" which is one of the worst in supporting every "anti" hunting/fishing related sports....

I only wear LL Bean Double L jeans. They fit me, the price is fair and their customer service has been outstanding. Their pima polo shirts are also the most comfortable that I have ever owned.

Never heard of Patagonia myself. Maybe those folks just don't know what Patagonia supports. It is getting hard to find companies that don't support some objectionable cause. For all the comments about Carhartt being made in America, I was looking at them on Cabela's and many of the carhartts are imports. Then they have a few labeled Union Made in America ... boy are they expensive.

I don't think I have seen that brand either but I am a pretty simple guy when it comes to clothing.

Every time I see a friend wearing Patagonia, they get the lecture. Every time. Until they get it.

Sounds like flowers to me.

g

I was unaware of Levi Straus's prominent anti gun stance and that impacted me the most.
I wear mostly Wranglers, that fact just sealed the deal.
We all need to support/boycott companies that have inputs into our chosen lifestyles.

I quit wearing Levis about 15yrs ago when then dropped support for the BSA. I didn't know about their anti-gun stance, but I'm not surprised----------a liberal is a liberal.

I wore Wranglers for about 10yrs, and have switched for the last five to Carhart, Prison Blues and Dickies dungarees.

Being a West Aussie cattle rancher, the only time I see wranglers in any numbers is at a rodeo. The Boot scooters love them too. Some will hate to hear this, I see some of the Gay community emgrace them over recent years. Most rural / farming / ranching folk wear Levis, tho there are other brands too that are popular - Thomas Cook, Yakka, RM Williams etc, etc... Lee bull Denim had a small following [including me], but Lee fell by the wayside when they droped the Bull Denim here. I don`t mind what people wear in their choice of denim or why. Politics aren`t in it here... If it did, I would be naked, starving, broke and without wheels! Funnily enough, Levis has said nothing anti-hunting or anti-firearm in this country that I am aware of. Neither have Wrangler, RM Williams or others... Which makes them a minority. Wrangers some hate em, some like em. Levis, some like em, some hate em. Wranglers are just Not for me, don`t like the cut or the look... Levis 501s and Walls Washed duck pants for extra hard wear, for me the 2 can`t be beat! Long Live what ever you want to throw your ass into...

ps: Carhartt are a good solid Brand. I met with their management team in Deeborn a few years ago, when I was looking to retail their products here Down Under. Yes some is US made to satisfy US unions and some is foreign made, same as Walls and others. Carhartt have a great product line, but people didn`t like the name anymore as it was no longer grass roots American. Had trouble with Carhartt wanting to control me and my operation with their own people too... So swithced to Walls. They are a great bunch of folks...