Ahead of its time: How jean makers in the 1890s designed tiny pockets to carry this once commonplace item - but can YOU guess what it's for?
- The tiny pocket on jeans were designed to hold an everyday item in the 1800s
Have you ever wondered what the small pockets on jeans are used for?
The confusing design dates back to the 19th century, and made a lot more sense when first introduced.
As designers still include the feature on jeans more than a century later, many have tried to work out what the pocket can actually hold.
Some have tried to squeeze their mobile phones into the small space, but even when they were the size of Nokias it would not be a comfortable fit.
Similarly, shoving your keys in there will only lead to a bulging pocket and a scratched hip bone. And while it can fit small change, it was not designed for this purpose.
Turns out, the pocket is not to add aesthetic or inconvenience - but is actually meant to hold your watch.
Ever wondered what the tiny pocket on jeans are made for? Turns out they have a purpose dated back to the 1800s.
Levi Strauss & Co's historian Tracey Panek explained the purpose of the tiny pocket to Insider.
The pockets can be traced back to the design for 'waist overalls,' the original name for the blue jeans made by Levi Strauss & Co.
They appear in the patent Strauss and J.W. Davis received for 'Improvement in Fastening Pocket Openings,' on May 20, 1873, and were first distributed in 1890 with the 'Lot 501' jeans, the model for Levis 501 jeans today.
Panek said: 'The oldest pair of waist overalls in the Levi Strauss & Co. Archives (from 1879) include the watch pocket. Our 19th century overalls had a single back pocket on the right side of the pant beneath the leather patch.'
Pants with the tiny pocket are called 'five-pocket pants,' but the fifth pocket is actually on the back-left, added to Levi's 501 jeans in 1901.
As the tiny pocket is intended to hold watches, you won't find them on suit trousers because the watch is designed to wear inside the suit jacket.
And, as jeans were manufactured for a casual look, pocket watch owners would need an alternative place to put them.
But nowadays, there isn't much use for the pocket, as watches are worn as fashion statements rather than actual convenience.
Panek, however, said the feature is still kept to maintain the integrity of the early Levi's design.
The tiny pocket on jeans was first introduced by Levis in the 1800s to hold a watch, now they are kept to maintain the integrity of the design
She added that Levi's jeans have remained almost unchanged since first launching in the 19th century, and have mostly maintained the iconic design with the exception of World War II.
Panek said: 'One interesting fact about the watch pocket is that during WWII the two corner rivets were removed as a way to conserve metal for the war effort.'
The rivets returned to the watch pocket after the war and were likely kept as an homage.
The location of the pocket varies, some brands put it in the front next to a bigger pocket while others will include the watch pocket in a regular sized pocket.
Unfortunately, today there isn't much you can do with the tiny pocket. Some people have tried to make use of the historic design by using them to keep coins, condoms or matches.
An online debate about the pockets was sparked after a user posted a picture of the pocket and said: 'I'm tired of pretending, what's this mini pocket for?'
Some users suggested putting train tickets or small jewelry items in there - but the design of the pocket can make it difficult to extract anything from it.
It's difficult to imagine what jeans would look like with the absence of a tiny pocket, so perhaps there's a market for a new small device to be kept in there.
A Tweet sparked an online discussion after a user asked what the mini pocket is used for
One user, aware of the history behind the pocket, guess correctly
Another joked about the lack of space the pocket offers, suggesting people will not be able to find what they put in the tiny pocket
Others have opted for a more practical approach and have used the pocket to store keys, notes and flash drives - a modern day take on the watch pocket
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