Levi Strauss Does Gun Control
BY Herschel Smith
5 years, 8 months ago
In November 2016, I wrote an open letter requesting that gun owners not bring firearms into our stores, offices, or facilities, even in states where it’s permitted by law. This was following an incident in one of our stores in which a customer accidentally shot and injured himself while trying on a pair of jeans. While that was bad, it could have been worse: The bullet could have killed him, another customer, or one of our employees.
In the days after I published that letter, I received threats to our stores, our business, and even on my life. It was unsettling. But these personal attacks pale in comparison to the threats that activists and survivors from Parkland, Sandy Hook, and daily incidents of gun violence face every time they speak up on this issue.
As president and CEO of a values-driven company that’s known the world over as a pioneer of the American West and one of the great symbols of American freedom, I take the responsibility of speaking up on the important issues of our day very seriously. We can’t take on every issue. But as business leaders with power in the public and political arenas, we simply cannot stand by silently when it comes to the issues that threaten the very fabric of the communities where we live and work. While taking a stand can be unpopular with some, doing nothing is no longer an option.
That’s why Levi Strauss & Co. is stepping up our support for gun violence prevention. You may wonder why a company that doesn’t manufacture or sell guns is wading into this issue, but for us, it’s simple. Americans shouldn’t have to live in fear of gun violence. It’s an issue that affects all of us—all generations and all walks of life.
That would be nice if it was true. At a recent business meeting of cowboys in another city, I noticed they were all wearing Wrangler, not Levi Strauss.
Go back and try again, or admit that your apparel is worn by California hippies and not cowboys.
On September 4, 2018 at 10:55 pm, Fred Fredburger said:
Thanks for this timely info. I was about to pull the trigger on a pair of Dockers shoes for work. Now I’ll give me money to some OTHER company sourcing shoes from Chinese slave labor.
On that note, I find it interesting (if not ironic) that Bergh crows about integration of its factories in the South prior to the civil rights movement. Where are those Southern factories? In fact, is there any Levi Strauss factory anywhere in any of the 50 states? Answer: Levi Strauss closed the last of its US factories in 2003.
To Mr. Bergh: I’ll take my slave-labor-wage-made products without a side of batshit-crazy left-wing politics. That means I won’t be buying yours.
On September 4, 2018 at 11:43 pm, Wyatt said:
Word on the Wranglers from cow country.
On September 5, 2018 at 4:52 am, DAN III said:
ALCON,
Levi Strauss & Company. My how appropriately worldly of the CEO. Seeing as his once-Amerikan product is made offshore by foreigners paid to replace American labor.
Invest in hemp.
On September 5, 2018 at 4:53 am, Nosmo said:
This isn’t new, Levi Strauss has been anti-gun for well over a decade that I’m aware of. So far, they’ve been reasonably quiet about it, though, possibly because they thought it might impact sales. Interesting that now they seem comfortable publicizing it.
On September 5, 2018 at 6:46 am, Steve Parker MD said:
I buy Wranglers.
On September 5, 2018 at 7:11 am, Talktome said:
So… their business plan is to market to the part of the populace that doesn’t have a clue? I guess they picked the larger slice, rather than shutting up and having everyone as a potential customer.
The statement also servers to underscore that you don’t have to be very bright, or even read history to be successful in business – at least at publicly traded companies. When did people in the US become so damned gullible that they think the solution to people killing people is to take guns from the non criminals? Why are We The People always the problem and not the actual purveyors and marketers of violence? F Levi Strauss – they lost a customer for good. Haven’t bought their wares in quite a while; overpriced and quality has slipped the last 15 years. How is that offshoring production working for ya?
On September 5, 2018 at 7:22 am, Bram said:
I look in my closet and see my last pair of Levi’s (mixed in with other brands). I go out through the garage and see my last 3 pairs of Nikes (running, cross-training, and lifting) all bought at Dicks.
Despite having a business degree, I cannot understand why these companies are so desperate to lose my business.
On September 5, 2018 at 9:09 am, Fred said:
@Talktome, The devil always tells you that what is wrong is right. Gun Control is not about guns it’s about control. They are not stupid, they are in league with evil.
On September 5, 2018 at 9:59 am, D Day said:
After 42 years driving a truck border to border and ocean to ocean I remember many years ago when Levi Strauss said they were pulling their line of apparel from all truck stops as they felt truck drivers was not the image that they wanted to portray, I think that was at least 15 years ago. They never saw another cent from me, Wranglers are all I buy.
On September 5, 2018 at 10:17 am, revjen45 said:
Wrangler and Carhartt for me! Levi’s can kiss my grommet.
On September 5, 2018 at 10:52 am, Chris Mallory said:
Levis went anti-gun and pro homosexual back in the early 90’s. Sometime before 1993.
On September 5, 2018 at 11:43 am, James said:
I have 20 year old pairs of jeans that fit fine and still have more material in them then the new pairs of levis,same style ect.,hence,stopped buying em a while back,they just gave me one more reason though to never consider them again.The customer service # is 800-usa=levi,give em a call and let em know how you feel like I did.
On September 5, 2018 at 1:49 pm, LP said:
Yesterday Banks(Corporations) today all Corporations?
I wonder if the banks are pressuring or threatening Levi’s?
Quote from an Edwin Vieira article from a couple of months ago:
“Plainly enough, Bank of America has set out to interfere with, curtail, and even stifle entirely
a particular form of legitimate and profitable commerce. If Bank of America can take such
economically arbitrary action with respect to the manufacture and sale of certain types of firearms desired by many ordinary Americans, then all banks can do so, with respect not only to those firearms, but also to any and all others. And if banks as a class can take such action with respect to the manufacture and sale of firearms, they can do so with respect to the products and services of any and every legitimate business. Thus, relying on the old adage that “money talks”, Bank of America is declaring no less than that banks are entitled to behave as the veritable arbiters of American domestic commerce—today, with respect to certain firearms which bankers particularly disfavor; tomorrow, with respect to anything and everything that may fall afoul of their peculiar ideological notions.”
On September 5, 2018 at 4:18 pm, Joshua Smith said:
No one that rides horses for more than a day rides in Levi’s. Long boot-cut wranglers with seams outside instead of in and some leathers is the only way to go.
On September 6, 2018 at 11:58 am, John said:
Levi’s is an old enemy from Way Back.