What is that small pocket on jeans for?

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Credit: Levi Strauss & Co.

Have you ever wondered why there’s a teeny-tiny pocket on the right side of your jeans?

You know, the one above the bigger pocket that fits absolutely nothing? Well you don’t have to wonder any longer, because we now have an answer.

As the very first company to produce jeans, Levi Strauss & Co. explains the design in their website blog.

It turns out that the pocket is technically called a watch pocket, and it’s been around for as long as jeans have been.

When jeans were first being worn in the 19th century, this small pocket served as protection for pocket watches, a style token back then.

On their blog, Levi Strauss & Co. explain the pocket and its function:

“The first blue jeans had four pockets—only one in back and, in the front, two plus the small, watch pocket. Originally included as protection for pocket watches, thus the name, this extra pouch has served many functions, evident in its many titles: frontier pocket, condom pocket, coin pocket, match pocket and ticket pocket, to name a few.”

Not only is the pocket extremely useful for holding tiny trinkets, it is also is loved by denimheads for the faded and worn nature it takes on over time.

Here’s a few more fun facts about jeans:

· Every American owns an average of seven pairs of jeans.

· Jeans were originally called “waist overalls.”

· The orange thread on Levi Strauss jeans is trademarked. It’s a subtle feature to help make the brand    recognizable and also matches the copper rivets.

· 225 pairs of jeans can be made from a single bale of cotton.