We meet the books we read in class, our favorite characters. Why do little children need history? Classic uses of a small pocket on jeans

We also come to the opening on a weekday. Firstly, there are much fewer people. This is very important when visitors are one meter tall! Secondly, children

fresh and ready to absorb information. And thirdly, all the workers at the fair are cheerful and cheerful.
The first rule (as when visiting museums) is to first discuss the rules: how to behave; what is possible and what is not; what to do if you get lost; when there will be a break and lunch, and so on.

After that, we sit in a corner (there are free lecture halls in the morning) and talk about book publishing, about small and large publishing houses, about the path that a text takes before it becomes a book, about editing, translations and illustrations. This year it turned out funny - a week before the exhibition, the guys and I looked at a book in English, told us what we saw in the pictures, tried to guess the plot without understanding the text, and at the exhibition, among the new products, we saw a published translation of this book. They recognized, were delighted, and recorded in their memory the important role of the translator.

Having discussed all this, let's go look at the books. Glory and respect to all representatives of publishing houses at the stands - they always communicate with us very carefully, politely and answer questions in detail. The questions are different. Do you have books about mermaids? What about hockey? And books about magic, how to learn it?.. Looking ahead, I’ll say that the little girl looking for books “about real magic", bought a collection of first experiments in chemistry and was completely happy (but her mother was not entirely happy).

The publishing house "Polyandriya" has a stand made just for the height of seven-year-olds, "Samokat" has a "real" lighthouse and brave sailors in vests on its stand, "Labyrinth" offers to take pictures in London during the time of Sherlock Holmes. The children don’t yet know who Holmes is, but they find out as they go, leaf through the book, look at the pictures and have fun reading the caption under their own photo: “The most dangerous man in London.”

We meet the books we read in class, our favorite characters.

Mom, look, there's the Gruffalo!

Oh, is that Mowgli? Can I look at this book?

We leaf through, listen, and ask publishers for advice.

Which book do you like best? - Alya asks seriously.

Is this our book or a translation? - Boris clarifies.

When all the halls have been completed, all the children's pockets are full of sweets, postcards and calendars. And in the notebooks there are notes: “Ask CompassGuide about the calendar” or “Pink giraffe, a book about dragons.” Notes are very important, otherwise you can get confused and forget where exactly you saw a cute book with a kitten on the cover (you made two extra circles and found it).

We agree in advance with parents that each child will receive three hundred rubles to attend the fair and will be able to buy himself a book. Someone had exactly three hundred with them, someone had five hundred, someone was given a thousand and asked to return the change. The next stage begins - you want to buy everything! If not all, then a lot, certainly not just one book - I liked so much!

We sit with Boris on the floor and are sad - the book that he likes costs six hundred, and he has three hundred.

You know, I came up with an idea. I don't have to have lunch!

Come on, Borya, we definitely need to have lunch. Let's write this book down in a notebook and you can talk to your parents - maybe they'll buy it for you separately or give it to you as a New Year's gift?

ABOUT! Great! And now I'll buy about Pacific Ocean, and one more for dad as a gift.

This is also important: some of the children want to buy a book for their younger brother, some for their parents. Someone asks to add thirty rubles, someone suddenly bargains vigorously at the stand.

By the end of the excursion everyone was very tired, but there were no dissatisfied people. After purchasing, you can go to a master class, take part in a quest or game, get an autograph from a Real Living Writer, or even ask the artist to draw a huge shark for you on a book...

On Monday at the beginning of the lesson we discuss who bought what, whether they are happy, and whether they have started reading. I show you my purchases.

Wow, what is this, Odysseus?

Show Elena!..

I'll bring the book when grandma finishes reading it to me.

And I’ll bring you an experience about magic foam!

But this girl, Hilda, she has blue hair, and she is friends with such a little man...

No obligation, no pressure. There's just a big one book holiday and pleasure that you then want to share. Having visited this holiday, little people see how great it is to be among books and their lovers, how many wonderful books are ahead and how many people are ready to help you with their choice.

Olga Lishina
Photo by Natalia Lapkina

Surely we are all familiar with the classic look of jeans: straight legs and five pockets: one on each side in front and back and another small pocket protruding above the right front pocket. But what is this one for? small pocket on jeans, not everyone knows.

Why a small pocket on jeans?

The first fifth pocket on jeans appeared in the Levi's 501 XX model almost 150 years ago, in 1873. By the way, at that time it was not the fifth, but the fourth pocket, since classic jeans of that time had only one pocket at the back, the second appeared later.

There are three main versions of why Levi's designers added this tiny pocket on the front. The most likely of them is that it was intended for wearing pocket watches on a chain, which at that time were much more widespread than now. On the jeans model of those times, this small pocket was slightly larger than we are used to seeing it now, and the watch would have fit in it quite well.

The second version of the appearance of this pocket is as follows: since jeans were then purely work clothes, it was stitched onto jeans for the convenience of workers. They could store various small things in it that were easy to lose. So, gold miners could put small nuggets there, and carpenters, for example, carnations.

Finally, there is also a popular version that the pocket was intended to carry a Zippo lighter, which at that time was used by most cowboys, whose main clothing was jeans. This version even explains the decrease in pocket size over time. Thus, after some time, the popular Zippo lighters were supplanted by Cricket lighters, which fit perfectly into a modern-sized pocket.

Why do you need a small pocket on jeans now?

Over time, the classic shape of jeans with five pockets became established, and more and more explanations appeared among people about what the smallest of them should be used for. So, at one time it was believed that it was suitable for storing small coins, which were then necessary for using payphones. Later, a version appeared that this was a pocket for a condom, since its packaging easily fit there. Many also carried a penknife in this pocket. Now this pocket is more of a tribute to the classic cut of old jeans than a truly functional device, but many continue to store various necessary little things in it: paper clips, packs of chewing gum, coins, a small amount of cash.

Despite the variety of jeans models, the number of pockets in men's jeans often remains the same. According to tradition, there are five of them.

4 regular-sized pockets have a practical purpose: they store small things, money, keys, etc.

The fifth pocket differs from the others in its size; it is smaller than the others. This pocket often causes confusion among jeans owners. Let's try to figure out why they sew a small pocket onto jeans, into which you can't put much.

The history of fashion knows exactly when an unusual pocket appeared on jeans. The age of this detail is approaching one and a half centuries.

Reference! Customers first saw it on pants in 1873. Levi's introduced a new tradition.

Back in 1873, the company released new model his jeans - 501 XX, which differed from others by the presence of a fifth pocket.

The author of this element is considered to be American designer M. Regalo. He came up with a compartment that, according to one version, was intended specifically for storing watches. This is exactly how it was designated in the catalogues: “watch pocket”.

However, initially, jeans owners used it for more than just watches. The “Gold Rush” that reigned in America at that time suggested a different purpose. The small, tight compartment was convenient for separate storage of washed-up gold nuggets, and was used for this purpose by many cowboys.

Classic uses for a small pocket on jeans

Gradually, the additional compartment began to be used for other purposes.

Watch

For a long time it was still used for watches, which in those days were not wristwatches. The watch chain was attached to the belt, and the case lay inside the recess.

Coins

The pocket turned out to be very convenient for storing small coins. It didn't take long to look for them among other things.

Small items

This detail was also appreciated by craftsmen who used strong and durable trousers as work clothes. Small parts (small nails, nuts, bolts, washers, etc.) were not lost and were always at hand.

Lighters

Smokers have found another purpose for the small decorative detail. It fit the Zippo lighter perfectly.

Romantic attributes

The lovers used the tiny compartment in their own way. At the right moment, either folded notes of romantic content, or rings indicating the seriousness of intentions, or contraceptives were taken out from there.

Medicines

There is another version associated with the designer M. Regalo. In accordance with it, it is believed that the author of the idea created a part for storing medicines, and possibly concealing prohibited drugs.

Reference! The fifth pocket in those days was called not only a “watch pocket”, but also a pocket for medicines - a “drugs packet”.

Personal talismans

It was considered important to constantly wear small amulets or talismans, which promised good luck and luck in business. Hidden in a pocket, they were invisible to prying eyes, but instilled confidence in their owner.

Modern use of a small pocket

Changes that occur in life have expanded the purpose of the fifth pocket and led to new options for its use.

Appearance cell phones forced us to look for a suitable place for them. A small denim pocket solved this problem.

It was also convenient to use it to deal with removed sunglasses. They were not inserted, but secured with a bow on the fabric, leaving the glasses on top of the trousers.

Many jeans owners develop individual habits. Some people know that they always have a small knife, others make it a place for chewing gum, others adapted for storing things purchased in transport ticket.

New technologies and the special purpose of the small pocket in Levi’s jeans models

Levi's, the first to add a fifth pocket to its models, is still ahead today. Professionals managed to combine classics and modernity.

And now the mini-department has received serious practical application. Buyers noticed that the new model of Red jeans Wire DLX the now familiar attribute of jeans looks new. It has a white leather overlay.

But the main difference between the model is the contents of the compartment. The owner of these trousers, along with the clothes, receives built-in headphones, a joystick, and special terminals. Thanks to this, the manufacturer combined clothes with iPOD, and the buyer received maximum convenience in working with it, because you can control the device using a joystick even when the iPOD remains in your pocket.

Important! All devices equipped with the Red Wire DLX model are detachable, making it easy to care for the product.

So a small pocket, which appeared as a decorative detail, became practical and convenient addition jeans.

The history of jeans began in 1973, when Levi Strauss separated the upper part from overalls and received a patent for his invention. Since all other details of the resulting pants remained unchanged, it can be assumed that the builders had a small pocket before this modernization. Therefore, the main version of why there is this part on jeans is that workers put nails, screws, nuts and other small things in it building materials.

The rise in popularity of denim coincided with the gold rush in North America. Therefore, prospectors often put washed-up nuggets into it. And adventurers who especially believed in luck hid talismans there.

Coins

The name of the small pocket on jeans sounds like coin pocket, “pocket for coins.” Indeed, at the time when jeans were invented, paper banknotes were little used, coins were in use, because the price level was not the same as now - for 25 cents you could eat in a tavern. Therefore, the version that a pocket was specially sewn onto denim trousers, in which it is convenient to keep coins, is quite justified.

If you remember that jeans were worn by working people, it becomes clear that they did not need wallets and purses, and change did not spill out of a small, tight pocket.

Watch

The smallest detail of the jeans is also a swatch pocket. Therefore, it is not difficult to come to the conclusion that a watch was previously kept in this pocket. We must pay tribute to this version, because in the 19th century they were mainly worn on a chain; wrist bracelets were not used. And if you remember that jeans were often used as workwear on construction sites or land work, it becomes clear that a person might simply not have other pockets - they couldn’t be sewn onto a robe or a T-shirt. On the other hand, it is inconvenient to wear a pocket watch in this place, because while sitting, it can put pressure on the thigh and cause discomfort.

Little things

It is clear that the pocket on jeans was invented to put various small things in it, which sometimes need to be quickly taken out. It fits quite tightly to the body, so in order to remove something, it needs to be slightly expanded, but the thing will definitely not get lost. There are versions that it has a certain size so that a condom, guitar pick, or lighter fits into it.

It is believed that in the days of cowboys the size of the pocket corresponded to a Zippo lighter, since that was what the steppe guys loved. Now it is being customized to fit Criket, because lighters of this particular format are the most popular in the world.

Most likely, the pocket has already been used as needed. For example, in certain circles this detail of jeans is called a funny pocket or drugs pocket and illegal drugs are hidden there.

Jeans are a very conservative wardrobe item. Above the right front pocket, for example, they must have another small pocket. And without it, jeans are no longer jeans at all. True, they are still arguing about why they started making it in the first place. It is clear that this is not a matter of aesthetics. After all, jeans were originally intended not for fashionistas, but for working people. That is, the pocket had to have some kind of applied function.

AiF.ru gives the most common versions of why a small pocket began to be sewn onto jeans, and how it acquired its modern form.

Watch protector on a chain

In the 19th century, one of the signs of the prosperity of the American worker was a watch on a chain. They were quite expensive for a simple worker, so he treated them with incredible care. To prevent them from being scratched in the pocket by keys or coins, they were placed in that very separate small pocket. This version can be confirmed by the fact that in the catalogs of the legendary American jeans manufacturer Levi’s this very pocket is called a “watch pocket”.

Child of the gold rush

In the middle of the 19th century, the United States began gold rush, and people from all states, wanting to get rich, rushed to California. Gold was washed in streams, and grains precious metal weighed only a few grams. In order not to lose their loot, the miners carefully put it in a small jeans pocket, which they initially sewed themselves. Realizing that they could make money in this way, denim manufacturers rushed to change the design of their products, attaching an additional mini-pocket to it.

Wild Bill's Little Helper

The development of the Wild West laid the foundations for the American attitude towards firearms, which to this day is considered one of the symbols of national identity. No American president has yet succeeded in banning it, although there have been plenty of such attempts. In the 19th century, a small jeans pocket was used to store primers: miniature metal cylinders used to ignite a powder charge in firearms. Cowboys, by the way, also seriously influenced denim. Metal rivets on the back pockets of jeans were no longer made due to the fact that they spoiled the saddle cover.

Antidepressive lighter

The small pocket received its standardized size only in the 30s of the twentieth century. The United States was then experiencing the Great Depression. Although many farmers and workers fell into poverty, the American entrepreneur George Grant Blaisdell launched a very bold campaign for that time, whose slogan read: “Lighter! This is what a person constantly needs, no matter what his financial situation!” In this way he advertised a Zippo gasoline lighter, which soon became very popular. They wore it for show back then: in a small jeans pocket. But there was one problem. In some jeans, the lighter immediately sunk into a mini-pocket, and no one could see it. And it didn’t fit into the pockets of other jeans at all. In this regard, denim manufacturers decided to adjust the size of the small pocket and make it the way we know it today.