Strauss is one of the most influential American immigrants who had self-taught success. Through constant work and a desire to take risks, Levi Strauss slowly emerged as one of California's most prominent citizens by the end of the 19th century. He used his name for one of the most well-known clothing brands, today known throughout the world for its quality jeans: Levi Strauss & Co. Levi Strauss, his name was Loeb, was born on February 26, 1829, in Buttenheim, in Germany. His family had a family business selling dry goods, and several of his father's sons maintained it after leaving Germany. Because the family was Jewish, the United States offered them freedom and better growth opportunities for their businesses. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay During the year 1849, gold was discovered outside of Sacramento, California, bringing hundreds of fortune hunters to the location. As this frenzy continued, Levi's sister, Fanny, went to San Francisco with her husband to open a textile business. Hearing this decision, Strauss sailed to California, carrying dry goods donated by his brother. After arriving in San Francisco, Levi opened his own wholesale business, initially called Levi Strauss, acting as an agent for his half-brothers. Most of his shipments included denim work pants or the fabric itself. The merchandise was later sold to miners, but as more families arrived in San Francisco, the company decided to add clothing separately for women and children. Slowly, he earned a reputation for selling quality products at fair prices. Within 12 years, Strauss had become one of the most successful dry goods companies in California as his company continued to expand. The first work pants he sold were made of canvas, but Strauss later switched to denim instead. These pants were just one of many products from Levi Strauss & Company, which ranged from jackets to boots. As Levi Strauss & Co. grew, management changed as Strauss' nephews began to join the company and take on more responsibilities. This happened when his brother-in-law, David Stern, died in 1874. However, Levi still continued to make important business decisions while his nephews ran the operations. In the years that followed, his fortune also grew: a report from 1877 stated that Levi Strauss was worth more than $4 million. In 1902, illness struck Strauss and he took a vacation to try to regain his health. However, his condition worsened and he died peacefully in his sleep during the night of September 26. One invention that Levi Strauss & Co. was famous for is their riveted jeans. This was an important point in Strauss' career as this pair of jeans would go on to inspire other companies around the world such as American Eagle, Wrangler, and even Diesel. It all started with another man who would eventually be the first to come up with the idea for riveted jeans. It was a man, a tailor from Nevada, named Jacob Davis. Similar to Strauss, Davis was also a Jewish immigrant and had sent Levi Strauss a letter in 1872 describing the improvements he had made to denim trousers. Some points that struck Strauss were how the stitching was stronger near the pockets and flap, convincing him to secure a patent with Jacob. This way, no other company could use this design. Please note: this is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay In 1873, Levi.