Why do you need a fifth pocket on jeans ?

According to the canon, jeans should have five pockets. Two front, two rear, as well as one "additional" internal. If everything is more or less clear with the first four large pockets, then everything is not so simple and obvious with the fifth pocket. Why is it needed and how can it be used? In fact, in the design of the pants, this part is present for a reason. | Why do you need a fifth pocket on jeans? →

It’s worth starting with the fact that a small pocket in jeans, which many call the “fifth”, is actually not the fifth. Jeans in the USA appeared in 1873. The first model of Levi's 501 trousers (in the modern interpretation) had not five, but four pockets. Two front, one rear and one small internal, which is actually being discussed now.

The jeans were created by the son of a Jewish hawker Leib Strauss, who patented a product under the US Patent and Trademark Office under the name "strapless work overalls with pockets for knife, money and coins." The real fifth pocket is the second back. He appeared only in 1901.

However, back to the small inner pocket. In Levi's catalogs, he has an absolutely specific designation with the name “watch pocket”. Given the fact that the manufacturer calls him that, there can be no other versions and speculations here. Initially, the fourth pocket was made so that American hard workers could carry watches (of course, those who could afford them), which were then suspended on a chain.

Of course, in practice, “watch pocket” was not always used, and not only for carrying watches. Lighters, money, coins, and even nails were put into it during operation. Fortunately, the design of the additional pocket made it possible to almost perfectly hold various small-sized items at hand and without risk of losing them.

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