The Lee 101Z, introduced in 1926, was among the first jeans designed with a zipper fly.
Lee developed the 101Z as a variation of its established 101 workwear line. Its defining feature was a zip fastener instead of the traditional button fly, making the jeans quicker to put on and remove. This was a notable change in work clothing during the early twentieth century.
The model was especially significant because denim trousers had traditionally been built around metal buttons and reinforced construction. The zipper offered convenience while preserving Lee’s durable denim styling. The “Z” in 101Z is commonly associated with the zipper-fly construction.
The 101Z should not be confused with Lee’s broader 101 line, which dates to the 1920s and includes several different fits and constructions. It is also distinct from the Lee Rider name, which became strongly associated with the company’s later Western and casual jeans.