SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 30, 2003 / --- Jeans. Levi Strauss invented them in 1873. Cowboys wore them. Elvis wore them. Fifty years later, Bruce Springsteen wears them.

For years, celebrities of all types have been seen sporting hot denim looks and now DuPont is taking this American icon into the future. Traditional blue jeans will never be the same now that denim has been combined with DuPont™ Kevlar® brand fiber, a super-strong and lightweight fiber that's best known for its use in bullet-resistant vests. These new jeans aren't designed to stop a bullet. However, they will stop a rip and won't weigh wearers down!

Although in fashion terms, an item of clothing that remains in style for more than a month is something of an oxymoron, jeans have managed to hold the spotlight for generations.

Denim is as versatile as the people who wear it, from Levi's® Low Rise hip-hugging stretch jeans with DuPont™ Lycra® brand elastane, to the latest super-baggy look inspired by today's hip-hop recording artists.

In fact, the music industry has helped to keep denim at the top of fashion's ever-changing pyramid.

A recent survey of teenagers by KRC Research revealed that 82 percent of respondents agree that the hip-hop driven urban lifestyle is a trendsetter when it comes to fashion among teenagers.

The newest trend to hit the teen scene is Levi's® Silvertab® jeans and jackets made with a blend of cotton and DuPont™ Kevlar® brand fiber.

Kevlar® fiber is seven times stronger than plain cotton.

And who doesn't need a pair of jeans that won't wear out before you're ready for them to?

Jeans made with Kevlar® also are one third lighter than traditional denim jeans.

The lightweight fabric looks and feels similar to regular denim and makes these ultra-baggy pants both comfortable and cool.

Fashion-conscious consumers can find these jeans in both oversized dark denim and carpenter styles (suggested retail price: $62.00) as well as oversized denim jackets (suggested retail price: $92.00) in the Levi's Silvertab® line.

DuPont is no stranger to fashion. Its scientific innovations such as nylon, Lycra® brand elastane and DuPont™ Coolmax® performance fabric are staples of the fashion world.

In addition to these jeans from Levi's® Silvertab®, Kevlar® performance technology is being utilized in jeans in the Ralph Lauren RLX and Timberland Pro lines.

Levi's® Silvertab® Jeans with Kevlar® can be found at Levi's® stores nationwide, as well as major department stores including Macy's, Dillards and JC Penney's.