It used to be Levi 501s could be trusted for their quality, but Levi 501s sold today vary in where they are made, in how they are cut, and in the material used. In limited sampling, it seems the ones made in Mexico are truest to the original Levi 501 cut and denim. (I'm concerned only with the medium stonewashed style here). The jeans made in Egypt and Haiti differ in the material and sometimes in the cut--the cut can be quite bad--big in the seat or high on the waist. The original Original 501s were fantastic and relatively uniform in cut with nice soft denim. Today, the Mexican-made 501s are nearly as good as the original Original but even subtle differences appear here, such as one leg being slightly longer than the other. The Egyptian and Haitian are simply not good--the material is not soft and the cut is typically off the mark. And buying over the Internet, it's a crapshoot as to which ones you'll receive. Your best bet is to buy in a brick-and-mortar store, where you can look (and try on) before buying.