Levi Strauss arrived in San Francisco and established his dry-goods business in 1853.
Strauss reached San Francisco during the California Gold Rush, joining his brothers in the family dry-goods trade. Rather than mining for gold, he supplied miners and other customers with clothing, fabric, and assorted necessities.
The business eventually developed into Levi Strauss & Co., the company that became famous for riveted denim trousers. The most important step in that transformation came when Strauss partnered with Jacob W. Davis, a tailor who had developed a way to reinforce trouser pockets and stress points with copper rivets.
The year 1853 is distinct from 1873, when the famous riveted-trousers patent was granted. It is also earlier than the later dates associated with specific Levi’s jeans models and logos.