The History of LEE Video Timeline

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“We keep it hot like matches and on lock like latches/Wack MCs get they microphone snatched like Lee patches.”—Talib Kweli “Twice Inna Lifetime”

The video above, posted by Street Etiquette, is a timeline documenting the Lee brand from its inception in 1889 to the 1970’s. In 1946 Lee debuted the “twitch” patch. Only reason I’m noting this invention is because I vividly remember being in my 1st grade class and hearing the principle come over the loudspeaker to adamantly inform us, and all the small time thugs who made it to school that day, that despite the rumors, Lee was not offering free jeans to people with a certain amount of Lee patches.

In the hood, young b-boys were getting their Lee patches snatched off, most times while they were still wearing their jeans. It was either that or face getting lumped up. The Bronx was so gully, and beautiful at the same time. [Spotted at Hypebeast]