Many have never noticed or thought about them. Small metal dots on the edges of jeans pockets, the so-called rivets, they do not serve as decoration. It is a functional element that has a long history behind it, he informs The debate reignited after a Reddit user posted a photo of his pants. “What are those buttons on your jeans for?” he asked under the shot, where a number of answers immediately began to flow.
Rivets are used to strengthen the weakest places of jeans, corners of pockets. It was these parts that were most often torn in the past, especially when workers carried heavy objects or tools in their pockets. Denim was originally a working material for miners, gold diggers or carpenters and had to withstand extreme loads.
“It’s the braces. The edge of the pockets takes the most weight and was the first to tear.” one of the commenters briefly summarized the meaning of rivets. Another reminded that just this simple invention helped make Levi’s famous, which was the first to introduce rivets to work trousers.
Although modern jeans mostly don’t carry heavy tools anymore, rivets have remained an iconic part of their look. Today, for many, they are more of an aesthetic element, although people working in the aforementioned crafts still appreciate their practical importance.
Joking reactions also appeared in the discussion. Some claimed that the “knobs” were only meant to burn one’s hands when taking them out of the dryer, others called them “jean pimples”. However, the function of rivets has not changed in the last 150 years, they are supposed to protect the bags from tearing. The fact that they are also a symbol of iconic fashion today is a pleasant bonus.
