Unit 23 Forever in Jeans
第23单元 牛仔裤的不死传说
Blue jeans are a mainstay in thr fashion world. Considering their popularity, it is surprising to learn that these denim trousers were only invented 150 years ago.
牛仔裤一直是服装界的支柱。从它受到广大的欢迎来看,很难想象这些牛仔裤竟是距今一百五十年前发明的。
Levis Strauss was immigrant from Germany. In 1850 he found himself in San Francisco selling supplies to gold miners. There was a need for durable pants so Strauss got to figuring out a solution.
里维斯·施特劳斯是德国来的移民,一八五零年他来到旧金山卖补品给挖金矿的矿工,当时需要耐用的裤子,因此施特劳斯想找出解决办法。
He first made a pair of pants from canvas, which was used for tents, however, the miners complained that they were stiff and uncomfortable. Strauss then found materials made of soft cotton from France, which today we know as denim. He made a pair of denim pants that were dyed with indigo dye giving them the famous blue color we know denim to be today.
他先是用帐篷的帆布做成了裤子,但矿工抱怨裤子太硬不舒服;后来,施特劳斯发现一种法国制的绵软布料,也就是我们今天所知道的牛仔布,他用牛仔布料做成裤子,并染上靛蓝色,这也成为牛仔裤今天广为人知的色调。
The rest we say in history. Levis Strauss did not consider himself to be a fashion designer; however,he ended up designing one of the most common fashion items we have today, jeans. It just goes to show that you never know where talents lie or when they will pop up.
剩下不用多提,都已过去。里维斯·施特劳斯从不认为自己是服装设计师,不过最后他竟然设计出一种持续到今天、最常见的流行商品:牛仔裤。这证明没人知道自己的天分为何以及何时会展现。
【美】 Meredith Walker 著 陈怡芬 译
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