To celebrate 140 years of an American icon, eight SA creatives have taken the Levi’s® 501® out on the town and documented their ventures through photographs showcased on onesmallseed.com as part of a global campaign called ‘What’s Your Interpretation?’ It is now up to you to vote for who you think interpreted the iconic pair of jeans best.

And, to make it more exciting, we’re giving away two Levi’s® vouchers – one in CPT and one in JHB. In order to win, follow @onesmallseedSA and LevistraussSA on Twitter, and vote for who you want to win by telling us their name in your Tweet with the hashtag #501s, remembering to include the city you live in i.e. #JHB/#CPT. Winners will be announced on Tuesday 30th. You’ll be able to vote once on Twitter and once below in this post. Without further ado, here are the 501® interpretations of Max Mogale, Sergio Ines, Grant Payne, Dan Nash, Marco Riekstins, Roy Potterill, Dylan Muhlenberg and Andrew Berry. They’ve done their job, so now it’s up to you!

IMPORTANT:Take a look at each of the eight interpretations and then scroll to the bottom to cast your vote! You can vote only once, but for two people! So, who are your top two…?

01: DYLAN MUHLENBERG
 

Dylan grew up with a love for words and has worked in the magazine industry for a decade now. After eight years at GQ, he’s realized that health is the new wealth and is now busy at SA’s biggest men’s magazine, Men’s Health.(Read more, here)

 
02: MAX MOGALE
 

Renowned for documenting the Cape Town street scene, Max Mogale’s photographic skills have seen him quickly rise through the ranks of the city’s social documentary crowd. (Read more, here)

 
03: MARCO RIEKSTINS
 

Marco Riekstins is a fashion blogger (Man of the Cloth), writer and stylist living in Johannesburg. Built under the premise that any man can live a fashionable existence. (Read more, here)

 
04: ROY POTTERILL
 

A long-time fixture of the Joburg creative community, Roy Potterill has always had an eye for opportunity and a talent for making things happen. He is currently the co-founder and creative wizz at Mobile Media Mob.(Read more, here)

 
05: DAN NASH
 

Creator and editor of South Africa’s Favourite Second Best Entertainment blog, Bangers & Nash. Online marketing consultant. MFCEO of #WhatUpRibs.

 
06: GRANT PAYNE
 

Grant Payne is a 25-year-old South African-based photographer/creator. His roots in photography lie deep in the streets and he’s one of those shoot-first-ask-later kinda’ guys. (Read more, here)

 
07: SERGIO INES
 

Sergio Ines is a Creative Director at a Cape Town ad agency. When he can, Sergio likes to talk men’s fashion on his blog WhatMyBoyfriendWore.com. (Read more, here)

 
08: ANDREW BERRY
 

Andrew looks for cool things, mainly South African cool things, but also cool things in general. Then he helps other people see these cool things by putting them on We-are-awesome

PLEASE NOTE: You can vote ONLY once here (for your top two interpretations!), but you can also vote via Twitter. Scroll to the top of the page and read the intro again for details on how to enter the competition and also get another vote in!
 

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

The Birth of an American Icon

When Levi Strauss partnered with tailor Jacob Davis in 1873 on a patent for riveted pockets on work pants for Western pioneers, they couldn’t have dreamed of its impact on modern culture. The Levi’s® 501® button fly jean – the original and first ever blue jean – was born on May 20, 1873. And 140 years later, it is more popular and even more relevant to global culture and style than ever before.

Deemed Time Magazine’s ‘Fashion Item of the 20th Century’ – the original Levi’s® 501® button fly jean is an American icon that has been woven and stitched deeply into our world’s cultural heritage. From presidents to movie stars, farmers to fashion icons, entrepreneurs to the every man, the cultural significance of Levi’s® 501® jeans has been defined by the people who wear them. No other product has been worn, loved or re-imagined quite like Levi’s® 501® jeans. A symbol of individuality and universality – the 501® jean is the ultimate expression of personal style – worn by the pioneers who shape our world, generation after generation.

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

The Evolution of the Levi’s® 501® Jean

Designed with uncompromised authenticity and tailored to perfection, the 501® jean has subtly evolved through the years – improving with age to provide every generation with the jean they need.

This season, the 501® jean will be available in the same great fit in new colours including mineral red, chalk blue and ivy green. A lighter weight shrink-to-fit will fabric offers an incredible, buttery-soft hand feel.

The evolution of today’s 501® jean has been driven by a commitment to craftsmanship and quality. There isn’t a stitch on the jean that hasn’t been reconstructed and improved to enhance this timeless product, while staying true to its essential core. Look for finer fabric, reinforced stitching, larger pockets to store your latest smart phone, and updated belt loops, inseams and cuffs. We’ve done it all in the spirit of the original, with the same care, the same craftsmanship, and the same attention to every detail. It’s the same Levi’s® 501® as always, like never before.

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

501® Interpretation

This May, the Levi’s® brand is embarking on a global campaign called ‘501® Interpretation’ to celebrate the range of expressions of unique personal style from around the world. The Levi’s® 501® is put in the hands of the fans — young and old, famous and not so famous — asking them for their interpretation of the original. A digital photo gallery of their images from high fashion to street style and everything in between will live at LEVIS501.com.

Looking to celebrate some local talent in the process, eight local creatives — Max Mogale, Sergio Ines, Grant Payne, Dan Nash, Marco Riekstins, Roy Potterill, Dylan Muhlenberg and Andrew Berry — will also be asked for their interpretations of the Levi’s® 501®s over the next two weeks. A digital photo gallery of their images from high fashion to street style and everything in between will live at onesmallseed.com. Up until 26 April, images will be added daily to each person’s digital gallery and you will be able to vote for your favourite 501® collection from 24 – 30 April. Also, watch Twitter and Facebook for upcoming competitions.

Feeling left out? Join the global movement by tagging a photo of yourself in your 501® jeans with #501s on Twitter or by uploading directly at LEVIS501.com.

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

IMAGE: LEVI’S®

Grant Payne, image: Dean Elliott

Hello, mynameisgrant. I am a 25-year-old South African-based photographer/creator. Born and bred in the 031, I call Durban home but now make my bed in Cape Town. My roots in photography lie deep in the streets. Black and white, shape and shadows… I am one of those shoot-first-ask-later kinda’ guys. I don’t often look for the beauty in things… but I try look for the truth. To me, a perfect image isn’t sharpness or pixel quality… it’s capturing that moment that will never present itself again. Always hunting, always looking… you never know what you’re going to see today.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To find out more go to mynameisgrant.com. And for more information on ‘501® Interpretation’ click here!
 

GALLERY

Portrait by Dean Elliott