So, it’s happened - the first products under the Wrangler and brands have finally begun to arrive to us, and we immediately decided to make several comparative reviews of these giants of the jeans industry. Today we will compare the most classic models of unwashed jeans - Levis 501 and 505 on the one hand, and Wrangler 13MWZ on the other. It was not for nothing that we chose these particular jeans - all three pairs are timeless classics and main competitors since the distant 50s of the last century.
The Rigid Indigo (or simply Rigid) colorway is also a traditional color that was one of the first to appear and remains unchanged, however, it is different on all three jeans. For Wrangler it is a lighter and more saturated blue, for Rigid 501 it is more grayish and purple, and for 505 it is completely black and blue. The reason why we took two models from the Levi side and only one Wrangler - the 505 is in many respects more similar to the 13MWZ, and we simply could not help but include the 501 Rigid in such a review.
(pictured below from left to right: 13MWZ, 501, 505)
Material
Judge for yourself, Levis 505 and Wrangler have the same fabric density (14.5 ounces), both have a zipper, the differences come down to the cut and type of denim weaving - for the cowboy brand it is the so-called broken twill, alternating left- and right-hand weaving, making the fabric even stronger and preventing the pant leg from twist, which was and remains extremely important for rodeo participants who so loved these pants. The material of both Levis is traditional right-handed weave (501 - noticeably softer, 12.5 oz). Otherwise, the 505 and 13MWZ are almost identical, it even seems that Levi Strauss specifically tried to “tailor” its second most popular line to the main flagship of its competitor.
Production
Despite the fact that the quality of all goods is carefully checked representatives manufacturing companies jeans, many of our customers strive at all costs to buy exactly the model produced in (apparently, this is some kind of urban legend, they say, these sew better). Here the cowboy brand will delight you - they sew jeans only in Mexico (except for premium lines, which are still produced in the USA). Levis, on the other hand, went to great lengths and has been sewing its products all over the world for a long time, even in Haiti, one of the poorest countries. What can you not do to reduce the cost of production!
Price
There is also a definite advantage for the Wrangler. In Ukraine, Cowboy Cut Original Fit Rigid pants cost from 50 dollars, while Levis 505 Regular Fit Rigid costs about 65, and 501 Rigid costs 70. Wrangler also has a line of very high-quality inexpensive jeans (Wrangler Five Star), costing 40-50 dollars in our market. It is noteworthy that the price for these models in the USA is the same. Official distributors of both Levi Strauss and Wrangler price their products at about 100 euros per pair. Ordinary dealers, importing jeans directly from the USA, price Wrangler 200-300 UAH cheaper. Apparently, this is due to the less popularity of the latter in our market.
Quality
In general, when comparing, it is difficult to give the prerogative to any one brand - all products are made well - high-quality, durable firmware, everything is done smoothly and neatly, occasionally there are protruding threads here and there, the size is a little off (which is allowed by production). The only thing that catches your eye is that the Wrangler is still much simpler, without logos on each rivet, without hidden numbers on the backs of buttons, prints on the inside of pockets, secret symbols on labels, etc. Apparently, this brand simply doesn’t need all this noise; the original quality is visible even without it.
Cut
And most importantly, what is the difference between the externally compared pants? Let's not be too picky about the details and will only go through the elements that are most striking:
Wranglers have a noticeably higher seating position, which gives them a more “cowboy” look.
The differences are in the pockets; the Rangler watch pocket looks more secure:
The seam at the junction of the legs of Levis is made with an overlap, while their competitor has an internal seam: 
The Wrangler still has the rivets on the rear pockets. And, of course, the location of the label is on the pocket itself.
Conclusion - if we talk about classic cut jeans, there is no clear favorite, it all comes down to taste, we recommend decorating your wardrobe with jeans from both brands. Happy shopping!
This article is regularly updated with new facts about in different ways product protection. We thank everyone who comments on this article.
Despite the fact that we live in an era of scientific and technological progress, favorable conditions have been created in our country for the development of the “second-line” or “super-copy” market. A fake is usually easy to spot by appearance, however, you can also find a real masterpiece. The Chinese have mastered the skill of creating copies best. The Turks and our manufacturers work at approximately the same level.
It is worth noting that the real country of origin is never indicated on the labels of fakes. Most often this is the standard phrase “made in USA, Italy, London, Paris...”. The risk of buying a fake is equally great anywhere in the world. So how can you distinguish between them and what can you do to prevent dishonest businessmen from making money? To do this, you need to follow several recommendations.
Currently, Levi’s and Lee labels do not include the inscription “Made in U.S.A.” This can only be seen on stock models and if they are vintage. Americans began to take advantage of cheap labor in China or countries Latin America. The savings on production are considerable. The last Levies factory in the US was closed back in 2006. and deep fashion in the USA is now sewn only in custom factories.
It turns out that the inscription “Made in China (Sri-Lanka, Mexico, Lesoto, Bangladesh)” cannot be a criterion for a product to be counterfeit. Branded production is branded. Such a transfer of production is simply an economically beneficial step.
What can actually indicate a branded product or a fake?
1. Price
Of course, price cannot be the main factor in quality. But you need to know that jeans from America can be purchased on average for $80-100. Real branded jeans can sell for $30, but only in the USA on sales. Although the sewing process is now cheaper, this does not greatly affect the cost. Jeans for America are made mainly from American cotton, with Egyptian cotton being used less frequently. The fabric is also manufactured in the USA according to US company specifications. Such production is quite expensive. Hence the recommended price - from 50 to 60 dollars. If someone sells jeans for less than $60 and convinces them that they are branded, then this is a real lie. Of course, this could be a sale of the latest items.
2 . Tailoring quality
High-quality jeans have even, well-processed stitches. The stitches must be uniform; loops are not allowed on the front side. The edges should be carefully processed and not unravel, overcast from the wrong side. Uncut thread ends or overlapping stitches are allowed. Their length should not exceed 5 cm. This is possible if the seamstress has run out of thread, but not on the side, back and front seams, or pockets. You need to study the thread itself. It should be durable synthetic or semi-synthetic. Counterfeits are often distinguished by low-quality rotten threads.
3. Textile
It is very easy to distinguish a fake by touch. If at least once in your life you had the opportunity to touch American and fake fabric at the same time, the difference will be huge. America is hard to confuse with any other fabric. In Europe there are also companies that sew high-quality things, but even their fabric feels different from American ones. Although fabric made in the USA may be just as good in quality.
4. Protective measures
Any company tries to protect its products using sets of varying degrees of protection, otherwise called “secret traps”. Each company has its own.
Levi's Company
Almost all jeans from this company are made from diagonal twill. On models of any treatment and color you can see a clearly visible diagonal pattern. If the fabric is black, then it should be black on both sides. Only the BLACK RINSED and SHRINK-TO-FIT models can have a lighter backing.
Particularly high level of protection:
- her original name “XX” should be on the waist label, and this is only true for this model;
— the “leather” label is made from cardboard with special polymer additives. It can be either completely new or very worn. It depends on how worn the pants themselves are, since the jeans are washed along with it.
- the same information must be printed on the inside of the front pocket “bag”, on a special printing stamp. This stamp is required on jeans that were sewn by Levi USA in the USA. Its absence immediately indicates a fake. The stamp may not be present on European-made or vintage jeans manufactured before 2002. Any modern jeans from the USA should have it.
— Levi’s 501 fastens only with buttons.
— The material from which buttons are made is nickel alloy. They are white in color. Tinting buttons or adding copper is only allowed on some models that have a wash effect. The number of buttons for jeans sizes W27-W29 is 4, including the waistband. On more popular sizes there are five, and on jeans large sizes- 6 items.
- Any model from the Red Tab category must contain rivets on all corners of the front pockets. Fashion models and some female models Jeans may also have rivets on the back pockets. All rivets must be stamped with LS&CO-SF- on the edge. Rivets can be made of nickel or copper alloy. This is determined by the color of the product. If the jeans are indigo color, then the rivets must be copper. On women's tight jeans, there are sometimes no rivets at all to avoid tearing the fabric.
If there are no rivets on the back pockets, this must be described on the hanging sales tongue located on the back pocket. It should say “Bar Tacket At Point of Strain.”
- the inside of the button must contain the number, which is located on the label sewn into the inside of the left trouser leg. The number is applied using embossing, and on branded items the quality of the embossing is poor, but on fakes it is ideal.
— the information label is sewn into the inside of the left trouser leg. It serves to indicate information about the manufacturing factory and batch. The text is applied in black, brown or sand color. On the reverse side of the information label, information about product care is indicated. A metallized thread containing a hologram and microtext is sewn into it for protection.
Since 2010, all labels have been moved to the right side above the front pocket and grouped. All service information is on the first label, which is closer to the pants. It contains information about the full model and color number, button number and more. Thread with a hologram is sewn only on 501 pants. The thread is no longer sewn anywhere!!!
Levi's jeans made in Europe may have a different label. It is wider, monochrome with care instructions in different languages. A metallized strip is not applied to it.
The country of origin on jeans is indicated on a label sewn into the waistband from the inside with right side. Information about the model name and style is indicated on the last label.
In 2010, a new standard for internal labels for jeans was adopted. The metallized strip is preserved. They should now look like below:
For other Levi's Red Tab models, the following protective mechanisms are used:
— Service information about the size, operating conditions, and place of production is indicated on a label sewn to the belt above the right front pocket from the inside. Microtext is not added. The numbers on the button and the label must match.
— The zipper tongue is made with an embossed Levi’s logo. There may be nothing on the inside, the logo or the length of the lock is indicated as “YKK 45”. Due to globalization, the tongue may have an embossed outline of the Levi's label and nothing else.
— On the red flag in 1971, the big “E” became small. Some Red Tab jeans feature the Patent R icon in a circle with or without the Levi's logo. The second option is most common. The company is rebranding to make its products cheaper.
On original jeans, the Levi's inscription is silver-gray, while on fake jeans it is white.
Real jeans have many more hidden safety features, but they are not disclosed by company employees. To avoid purchasing a fake, the above information is enough. The most common mistake on copies is the “eagle beak.” It is performed without crossing the lines at the end of the “arch”.
Levi's latest security feature is the barcode. As a corporation, it has the right to put its barcode on all products. The encoded data can be verified through the official GS1 website, or the global system.
We recommend that you contact the company “Aquamir.UA” and order real American jeans. The cost in Ukraine will be about $65 to $80 depending on the model.
Wrangler
There are a few details worth paying attention to. Many are sure that all Wrangler denim clothing is made from a fabric called “broken twill” - BROKEN TWILL. However, this is a big misconception. Only Rigid models and some models of vests and jackets, the cut of which corresponds to the COWBOY CUT style, are always sewn from this herringbone fabric.
Jeans from the gold bucket series, that is, washed with special treatment, are made from fabric with a clearly defined diagonal pattern. However, the fabric on Wrangler branded products is dense and noticeably heavy. Their products may feel fluffy to the touch.
Some models have a "Basic Equipment" booklet inserted into the left rear pocket.
On the codpiece, the stitching is done with threads matching the color of the fabric. It turns out that on a new product they are practically invisible, and then they appear beautifully when the fabric sheds.
Topstitching, or double outer stitching, on the trouser leg is done on the front side, overlapping the front fabric with the back. The stitching is done with threads of two colors. The top thread is red, and the inner thread matches the color of the product. Navy models have stitching done only with red threads.
The Cowboy Cut series has a leather label sewn onto the back pocket. On license-plate Wranglers, it is made of flexible plastic that resembles linoleum. The color of the logo resembles buckwheat, and the inscription is stylized as a lasso.
The label is made of soft leather substitute. George Straight and Silver Edition are jeans models that stand out for the brightness of their labels. It is practically impossible to make a fake that is barely distinguishable from the original for these models.
The “tab” is most often sewn into the stitching above the right back pocket. It may contain different options logo and be red, blue, black or any other color depending on the model. On license plates the inscription is done with a “string”, and on some models – in block letters.
The buttons on all models except the Silver Edition are copper with the Wrangler logo imitating stitches.
The zipper pull should have the outline of a cowboy boot stamped on it.
All rivets are made of copper with a smooth convex large head. On the reverse side they are steel. Some models do not have rivets.
All models do not have rivets on the watch pocket. Their watch pocket fits tightly to the waist part so that small things do not accidentally fall out of it. The exception is the 31MWZ model, which has a slightly lower pocket and no rivets.
You can also recognize a counterfeit by the barcode.
Lee Company
This company does not set any special traps for its products. You can distinguish them by the quality of fabric and tailoring. Threads used yellow color indigo color on all models. If the fabric is colored or black, then the threads are chosen to match.
The lines should be almost perfect. The tab is sewn either above the right back pocket or on the watch pocket. The three letters YKK must be stamped on all zipper locks. The service tag is sewn into the waistband on the inside in the area of the front left pocket. It must indicate the country of origin and the company's address in the United States.
On the new, modern series of Modern jeans, the tab can be sewn in a common line with the front right pocket, and it must have a service article of this type: 2015041. The first five digits are responsible for the model, the remaining two for the color. You can check this article on the official website or on the Internet via Google. The company address is no longer indicated.
Discussion: 10 comments
The creation of fibers from molten synthetic polymers began to develop in industrialized countries in the 1940s-1970s. At this stage, these fibers only partially replaced natural fibers and were used as an additive. The first of these fibers was nylon. It was invented by DuPont employee Wallace Carothers in 1935. Fresh fabric stood out for its special strength and low production costs, quickly gaining fame. Since the 70s of the last century, the creation of synthetics has increased rapidly, and canvas made of synthetic fibers has become widely used as a stand-alone material. Combined properties and outstanding qualities of synthetic fibers and fabrics of all types: strength; stability to the influence of microbes and microorganisms; wear resistance; crease resistance. Defects are considered to be the fact that the fibers do not absorb water well and are strongly electrified.
There are dozens of well-known jeans manufacturers, but if you include not particularly popular ones in the list, then you can easily reach a hundred, and if you count still very little-known manufacturers from Asian countries, the number will be endless. And so that the search for “your” jeans - those that fit perfectly and will win your heart with comfort - does not last for weeks, or even months; to speed up and simplify the selection and purchase process, as well as allow you to save as much as possible, we have prepared for you a detailed guide to the most popular denim brands from different price categories– from inexpensive economy models to premium manufacturers. In the first part we will talk about the economy segment.
It is important to make a disclaimer here: " economy segment", where the cost of the product is in the range of $10-50 - this is not at all synonymous with the concept of "poor quality". If you buy a product from a well-known trademark, albeit in the economy segment - you are guaranteed a certain and more than acceptable level of quality. Therefore, jeans in this price group hold the palm in the popularity ranking around the world. Of course, it cannot be said that the difference between budget jeans and premium jeans lies only in patterns and a big name on the label: premium models are often distinguished by “special” fabric, exclusive fittings, sometimes even handmade. But, as you understand, at a certain moment the “jeans” end and the real vanity fair begins. Want an example? If the average Levi's or Wrangler will cost the buyer $25-30, then Kiton or Ralph Lauren from the Purple Label collection can cost $1000 or even more. Therefore, what is more important to you: jeans as casual work pants or jeans as an element of status? It's up to you to decide.
However, in order not to overpay for a model of a very desirable and, alas, insanely expensive brand, sometimes it is enough just to wait for sales - for example, the famous November “Black Friday” or seasonal sales. At this time, discounts on branded jeans can reach 50%, and therefore even clothing in the luxury segment is approaching the price of brands that are more loyal in terms of price.
Fans of classic jeans have another chance to save money. For example, the legendary Levi’s 501 has not changed for 140 years, and therefore on ebay.com, you can easily find them, like another model you like, released in 2010 at a very “tasty” price. The main thing here is not to be lazy and regularly enter the name of the jeans model into the search bar: the most unexpected and pleasant “catch” is possible.
Unlike the premium segment, economy class jeans generally have an impressive range of models with a long history. And there is a completely reasonable justification for this: these models are not developed for the sake of glamor, status or abstract beauty, but for very specific and practical purposes - work, travel, hiking, outdoor activities. fresh air. Naturally, such jeans are highly durable, non-staining and have a prolonged service life. And when the pants do wear out, their owners go for the same well-proven model.
A well-known online store with a cowboy theme in the USA with a huge assortment. And the goods here are not for masquerade, but for Everyday life. Jeans and denim clothing, a variety of shoes, accessories from brands that are considered “theirs” by fans of the Wild West theme - Wrangler and Levi's. The order will have to be placed to the forwarder's address (usually for orders over a certain amount it is free). Direct international delivery to some countries of the former Union, for example, to Ukraine or Kazakhstan (DHL or UPS), but its cost (from $60) is unlikely to please anyone.
As in the case of Levi's, the online hypermarket will offer you a wide range of Wrangler jeans, providing up to 40% discount on a number of models. Thanks to location settings, you can see the price of the product in your usual national currency - rubles, if you make a purchase from Russian Federation, hryvnia – from Ukraine, etc. In addition, the site will automatically offer residents of Russia and Ukraine direct international delivery by DHL (unfortunately, there is no direct delivery to other CIS countries). But you won’t be able to make a purchase to the forwarding company’s address: the site accepts for payment only those cards whose billing address matches the delivery address.
Verdict
Wrangler jeans are without a doubt a worthy purchase. Steeped in history and iconic, this iconic denim brand is sure to enhance both your style and utility. Well, when it comes to price-quality ratio, Wrangler has virtually no competitors: this manufacturer is proud that its jeans have served their owners for decades.
Winter has already ended, but I still haven’t sat down to write a review of the winter jeans that I received right before the New Year. But it's better late than never, isn't it?
All my adult life I quietly hated underpants, but I wore them because even at +10⁰C I was freezing in just jeans. And last year, in the comments to one of the reviews, I came across information that in the USA you can buy Wrangler jeans with Thinsulate insulation, immediately after which I decided that I had enough of putting up with it.
About the purchasing process
I went to the official online store to look for the model I needed. Alas, the more or less standard-looking Rugged Wear series cost as much as $54, which was disappointing compared to prices for regular jeans of around $20-25. But in the assortment we found some ugly-looking jeans from the RIGGS Workwear series for $31.
And although for me jeans are purely utilitarian clothing, I still wasn’t mentally prepared to wear jeans that look like half of a work overall, and I probably would have been strangling a toad for a long time if I hadn’t paid attention to the photo of these jeans in brown.
They looked much less baggy so I decided to take a chance.
Then there was the question of size. Most of the jeans I wore were size 33x36. This, by the way, is what made me buy from the official Wrangler store through an intermediary (since you can only pay with a US card). I couldn't find a normal range of sizes anywhere else. But 33x36 was not on sale; the closest options were 32x36 and 34x36. After reading reviews that the jeans ran small, I ordered 34x36. How wrong I was... The jeans that arrived to me could be taken off without unbuttoning. The belt didn't help much.
After some time, I realized why I miscalculated the size so much. I'm used to wearing lower-rise jeans, and since my pelvis is wider than my waist, I need a larger size than high-rise jeans, which include the ones I'm reviewing. Upset, I ordered 32x36, which arrived in another 3 weeks. This time the size was correct.
Measurements with a tape measure gave the following values: 
Interestingly, when compared with regular non-insulated Wranglers of size 33x36 (which are under the spoiler at the end of the review), it turned out that their width is almost identical, as is their length.
Levi's 501 32x36 have almost the same length along the inner seam, while the outer seam is 6 cm shorter than both Wranglers, which have a higher fit. They are approximately 2.5 cm smaller in width.
Jeans outside
So, let's move on to the jeans. The photo will show either the first jeans or the second. I photographed the first ones upon receipt and for the sale announcement, the second ones for review after I had been wearing them for a couple of months.They look something like this. 
The first thing that catches your eye is the massive belt loops, as well as triple stitching on some seams. 
Tags and stickers are carried exclusively useful information, and phrases like 3M Thinsulate, Durashield denim, Lifetime warranty, and so on should certainly inspire confidence that these are more than just jeans made in Mexico. 
In fact, the size sticker left part of the adhesive layer on the fabric, onto which all sorts of debris subsequently stuck. 
There are no complaints about the quality of production. Yes, there are threads sticking out in places, there are some strange stitches with black thread at the bottom of the legs, but in general, everything is quite smooth and neat. The buttonhole is sewn perfectly, the button is beautiful and branded, and there is a boot on the dog of the snake. But the snake itself is of high quality, so let it be a boot. 
How the Durashield denim differs from the non-Durashield denim in other Wrangler jeans is beyond me, whether it feels the same or is virtually the same. Like a leather insert for carrying a tape measure on your pocket looks cool, and will probably protect the fabric from rubbing for a while if you constantly hook and remove the tape measure, but this is not my case. But the front pockets themselves are huge. I stuck my hand in and measured the depth - it came out to be 26 cm. The back pockets are only 14 cm. 
Big photo
Jeans inside out
Well, actually, about the most interesting thing, what makes jeans winter. The lining is quilted, one-piece from the waistband to the bottom of the trouser leg. It is sewn to denim only at the top and bottom. I don’t know whether this is good or bad, in operation it manifests itself only in the fact that it is better to insert your leg into the trouser leg a little more carefully than into ordinary jeans, so that your fingers do not rest against the fold and seam at the exit of the trouser leg.I apologize for the abundance blonde hair in the photo, a light cat lives in the apartment and her fur is everywhere.
Before writing the review, I was sure that Thinsulate was the black lining itself, but after thinking about the purpose of the quilting, I decided to look for photos online and discovered that Thinsulate is a white multi-layer material that is obviously under the black lining.
It’s difficult to say what the lining itself is made of, but it is pleasant to the touch and when worn. I didn’t notice any electrification, although it’s clearly synthetic. I have seen very similar, and possibly the same, lining in hats and gloves with Thinsulate.
In use
Directly in use, the jeans showed themselves to be excellent. As I already said, in regular jeans without underpants I feel cold starting at about +10⁰C. The weather this winter did not surprise me with cold weather; the minimum temperature at which I was outside was -10⁰C. These jeans, without any underpants, are warm and cozy at this temperature. I never felt the wind blowing, although it was strong. It’s also normal to be indoors, I expected it to be hot, but if in winter shoes It’s hot in a heated room, but in jeans it’s only warmer than we’d like. In this case, there is no constant contact between fabric and skin and the latter “breathes”. And yes, the Room2Move inscription on the tag did not deceive you; these jeans do not hinder your movements.In terms of wear resistance - the condition of the lining after one season can be seen in the photo. It frayed a little in the area of the bottom seam of the trouser leg, where the trouser leg fits over the top of the shoe, but everything is fine.
Well, in conclusion, the photo is of me. 
The legs seem to be longer than necessary, but if you tighten the waistband a little tighter and higher and sit down, then all the folds disappear. In terms of volume below the knees, everything is excellent, above the knees there is more volume than could be expected, but, firstly, they were initially described as Relaxed Fit, and, secondly, the additional volume increases thermal insulation.
In general, the style is specific, but they are warm and comfortable. I was more interested in the latter, so I am 100% satisfied with the purchase.
Bonus
As a bonus, a few words about other items that were ordered from wrangler.com in the same order.Men`s Covered Buckle Belt for $12.99.
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Width - 37mm, thickness - 3.5mm. The belt size you select when purchasing is the length in inches from the center hole to the point on the buckle where the hole ends up in the fastened belt. There are exactly an inch between adjacent holes. In theory, they should be bought in the same size as jeans, but in reality you need to buy at least a size larger. 
The new belt looks good, but after just a little time the area around the used hole becomes something like this. This happens because the trainer is located close to the buckle and the belt has to be bent strongly in order to thread it. 
I also caught it with my keys when I put them in my pocket, and got these beautiful scratches. 
What the belt is made of is the question. When viewed from the side, it appears to be glued together from 3 layers. 
There are no layers visible on the training jacket, back side quite similar to leather. Inner side belt - something incomprehensible. Perhaps there is a layer of paint on top of the skin. 
But to the touch and appearance the reverse side is clearly the weakest link. The soiling and delicate coloring of the front side were also not pleasing. In general, if I lived in the USA, I would return it back.