Are Levi's from Amazon Different from Levi's from Levi's?

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers Welcome to Jeans Month on the Strategist, where we’re obsessively vetting denim — from trying on every pair at the Gap to asking dozens of stylish people about their favorite fits. For more, head to our Jeans Month hub. The Strategist recently received a mysterious tip — the tipster had bought a pair of Levi’s jeans from Amazon that felt notably different from (and worse than) a pair that came directly from Levi’s. I’ve heard versions of the same theory over the years — not just for Levi’s and Amazon but from buyers of brand-name tank tops, mattresses, and T-shirts who were convinced that what they’d gotten from a cheaper retailer was lower quality than the version sold elsewhere under the same name. As the Strategist’s resident materials expert, I was on the case. I acquired two pairs each of our most-recommended jeans (women’s Wedgies and Ribcages and the classic men’s 501s) — one pair ordered from Amazon, one pair sent by Levi ... Read full article.