‘Oldest Known Pair Of Jeans In The World’ Found Off North Carolina Coast

For the second time this year, a really old pair of pants sold at auction for a lot of money. Back in October, a pair of Levi's from the 1880s went for $87,400 at an auction in New Mexico. The jeans were found in an abandoned mine shaft and were in remarkably good condition. They could probably still be worn. Well, it has happened again and, apparently, the price of pants has gone up.

AP News reports that a pair of work pants pulled from an 1857 shipwreck off the coast of North Carolina have been described as "the oldest known pair of jeans in the world." The white button-fly pants sold for an astounding $114,000 as part of an auction held by Holabird Western American Collections. In all, 270 Gold Rush-era items sold for close to $1 million in Reno, Nevada last week.

The jeans were found in a trunk that had been aboard the S.S. Central America, which sank in a hurricane on September 12, 1857. The ship was carrying passengers traveling from San Francisco to New York via Panama. We know that of the 578 people on board, 153 survived. However, questions remain concerning the pants.

San Francisco-based Levi Strauss & Co. began manufacturing jeans in 1873, sixteen years after the North Carolina shipwreck. Some speculate that it's possible the pants could be a very early version of what would become Levi's. The clothing company's historian and archive director, Tracey Panek, says that's unlikely. But, Levi's or not, there’s no indication that any older Gold Rush-era work pants exist.

Recycling clothes is a great way to help save the environment. I personally love 80s vintage clothing. Since I moved to Charlotte, my thrifting game has been leveled up and you can find some fantastic vintage finds.

Nasty Gal published a new study revealing the most searched fashion era in each US state. With demand for ‘vintage clothing stores’ has increased by +400% over the past year in the United States, the vintage fashion industry has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.

The most searched vintage fashion era across America was Y2K fashion. Y2K fashion was the most popular era in most states overall, including New York, Texas, and Washington. With over 5.1 billion views of the #y2k hashtag, it seems that Gen-Z and nostalgia-loving millennials are the driving force behind the demand for clothing from the era. 90's fashion was the second most popular vintage fashion era, followed by 80's fashion.

North Carolina loved the Y2k fashion era. It may be hard to believe that the 2000s is now considered vintage, but the era of low-rise jeans, velour, crop tops, and bold prints is America’s most popular trend. 21 US states have Y2K as their favored era. These statement looks are a blend of noughties pop culture, alongside the optimism of a new century, allowing creativity to thrive. You can see more on the Y2K style here.

Based on Google searches, these are the top 5 thriftiest states in America. Nasty Gal looked we looked at the search volume for popular thrift shops and the number of vintage stores within the most populated city of that state. North Carolina ranked number 17 on the list.

Massachusetts makes the top five when it comes to the love of vintage, despite its small size. The Bay State had the fifth-highest average search volume for 'thrift shop' in our study, showing that it loves a good preowned deal. In addition to 9,736 (out of every 100,000) searching for popular pre-owned clothing sites online. One of the most populated cities in the country, Boston, has 129 thrift stores - that's quite a collection of bargains!

Wyomingites searched for eBay more than any other state last year, and Wyomingites were also the top searchers for thrift shops. As you can visit thrift stores such as Plato's Closet in the city's most populated city, Cheyenne, you can see the love of pre-owned fashion and vintage eras. Known for their affordable style, anyone who loves vintage and bargain clothing should visit.

Californians seem to love a bargain, as the most populous city of LA is home to a staggering 240 thrift stores. Must-visit vintage stores include SquaresVille located on North Vermount Avenue, where you can not only discover statement pieces, but you can also sell or trade items you already have! The true beauty of thrifting in California? Not only will you stumble across ultra-stylish pieces and designer discounts, but some items may also even have been previously owned by a big-name celebrity!

Thanks to a massive 240 thrift stores in the most populated city, Portland, Oregon takes silver in our ranking of the thriftiest cities. Over 1 in 10 people searching for popular thrift apps. The study found that Oregonian’s favorite fashion era is Y2K (the 2000s), so fans of the noughties trends are sure to find the perfect piece.

New York has come out as the thriftiest state in the US. New York City is home to 239 thrift stores and over 11,606 (for every 100,000) New Yorkers searched for popular pre-owned clothing sites. The Thrifty Hog, located in Manhattan is home to carefully curated vintage clothing, whilst providing jobs for homeless moms. This is a true must-visit thrift store.