Soviet Jeans

The meaning of an American staple on the other side of the Cold War

Last month I shared a link to an NPR story about the 150th anniversary of blue jeans, which originated after the American Civil War with a Nevada tailor who made durable work pants out of denim — a material that was both strong (especially when reinforced by metal rivets) and comfortable. “Since then,” reported NPR’s Jessica Green, “blue jeans have beco…