Dap Up My Denim: Best Looks from Levi’s ‘The 150 Hong Kong Stories of 501’

Levi's® Double Horse patch, embossed with "May 20, 1873," commemorates the patent acquisition day for Levi's. With every revolution around the sun, this date is celebrated by Levi's as an important day.

This year, Hong Kong Levi's held "The 150 Hong Kong Stories of 501" exhibition at Parallel Space on May 26 to 28, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the brand’s iconic staple – the Levi’s 501 jeans.

Hong Kong’s 150 enthusiasts sending their birthday regards, included individuals from various fields such as music, art, rap, fashion, vintage clothing, dance, and design students. These enthusiasts, including Eric Kot, MC Yan, Rubberband, KOLOR, Wong Yat Ho, CHANKA, Jason Kui, JB, The Hertz, Dorothy Lau, IPYI, Ma Li, and LOUSY, have contributed to the exhibition by showcasing their historical treasures and artistic creations inspired by 501.

Hong Kong’s leading fashion enthusiasts and artists were plastered against the walls of the lowest floor of the exhibition wearing their Levi’s – here were some of The Beat Asia’s favourite stylings.

Levi’s x AMBUSH

MC Yan

Luna is a Bep, Merry Lamb Lamb, Rae Law

Captivating Stories of 150 Individuals

The exhibition also showcased captivating stories of 150 individuals from Hong Kong and their connection to the iconic 501® jeans. The exhibits include:

Horace Tsui's denim artwork skilfully mirroring the headshot of Eric Kot

A museum-grade antique pair of Levi's work pants, produced between 1873 and 1874, with rivet marks and design structure confirming it as one of Levi's earliest products, owned by collector Gary.

Designer Sonic Lam's refurbished 90s Levi's Vintage Clothing pair of jeans, blending two elements from the 90s—children's handkerchiefs and a Mickey Mouse T-shirt—to create the "Freaky Mouse Jeans".

Vintage clothing collector Gary Kwan's 60s pair of 501 jeans, cut into shorts, and transformed by adding 1980s 501 jeans and modern Kaihara Mills denim fabric, resulting in the "Tri-Colour" jeans that symbolize a perfect fusion of the past, present, and future. 

Fashion design students from HKDI, Cheung Cheuk Nam, Zachary, and Brianna, creatively transformed a pair of 501 jeans.

Zoie Lam's three-dimensional art installation featuring the 501 150th anniversary and a retrospective of Levi's legendary history

Designer Kenny's rare 1940s-1950s magazines, featuring Western folklore stories, tool encyclopaedias, and cultural information, acquired from antique markets

How do you like to wear your Levi’s? Keep up with Levi’s Hong Kong on their Instagram account.