Tracey Panek, Historian at Levi Strauss & Co., Iconic American Fashion Brands (Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, Part 1)

Fashioncast® 

Episode #56, November 21, 2025 

Tracey Panek, Historian at Levi Strauss & Co., Iconic American Fashion Brands (Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary, Part 1) 

In this episode, listeners are introduced to Tracey Panek, Historian and Archivist at Levi Strauss & Co., as Fashioncast commences its tribute to renowned American fashion brands. Since 2014, Tracey has served as an authoritative source on all matters related to Levi’s. With both undergraduate and graduate degrees in history, coupled with extensive experience as an archivist and historian for major corporations, Panek currently holds one of the most sought-after positions in the fashion industry.

Panek's dedication to her profession is evident as she recounts Levi Strauss's immigration from Germany to New York in 1853, where he established a dry goods store before relocating to San Francisco to further the business during America's Gold Rush era. This narrative highlights a journey marked by resilience and ambition amidst the challenges of a rapidly growing nation. Levi Strauss & Co., both as a business and a distinguished fashion brand, represents the essence of Americana. 

To showcase and preserve its history, Levi’s is among the select companies in the United States to operate a substantial public museum, “The Vault,” located at its San Francisco headquarters. The company also maintains an extensive private archive containing thousands of items related to Levi’s. Both the museum and archive are regularly utilized by Levi’s designers as sources of inspiration and guidance for design. 

Listening to Panek systematically outline the extensive history of Levi’s is informative. The discussion covers significant milestones such as the introduction of the pocket rivet patent in 1873, the brand’s emergence into casual fashion through Vogue, its cultural influence during the 1960s, and subsequent international growth driven by World War II and the Vietnam War. Furthermore, ongoing innovation is an integral aspect of Levi's corporate identity and has contributed to the company’s continued success over its 172-year history.

 We invite you to enjoy this first episode as we kick off our celebration of America’s 250th anniversary by honoring Levi Strauss & Co., recognized as one of the nation’s most distinguished and iconic fashion brands throughout its history.

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/traceyepanek/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTkLUPTtL2Y

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