In 1999, The New York Times declared the Levi's 501 jeans the 'garment of the 20th century,' recognizing the style's profound impact on global fashion and culture. The designation acknowledged the 501's journey from workwear to counterculture symbol to global fashion staple, worn by everyone from miners to movie stars. The honor cemented the 501's status as an icon of American design and a testament to the enduring appeal of denim.

The New York Times's declaration elevated the Levi's 501 to the status of a cultural artifact, a move that resonated with poets who have long been interested in the symbolic power of everyday objects. The 501, as a garment that has been worn by poets from Allen Ginsberg to John Ashbery, embodies the democratic spirit that has characterized much of American poetry. The declaration also reflected the growing interest in fashion as a subject of serious cultural analysis, a trend that poets of the early 21st century have embraced.