Today on Who Knew Wednesday we talked about National Denim and Zipper Day! Plus, we played our Who Am I trivia! Here’s what we talked about:

Who Knew: National Denim Day! Did you know your favorite pair of blue jeans has roots in France? The word “denim” actually comesfrom fabric made in Nîmes—“serge de Nîmes,” meaning “from Nîmes!” 

Who Knew: And here’s another one—early jeans didn’t even have zippers! When Levi Strauss first made them for Gold Rush workers, they used buttons because they were tough and reliable. 

Who Knew: National Zipper Day! Speaking of zippers… the modern version we use today was perfected by Gideon Sundback in the early 1900s—but they weren’t originally for jeans. They first showed up on boots!   

Who Knew: So how did zippers and denim finally come together? During World War II, zippers became more common in clothing—and eventually made their way into jeans for added convenience.  👖🔗 Today, whether you’re rocking a classic button fly or a zipper, you’re wearing a little piece of history. 

Who Knew: The zipper was invented in 1893 by Whitcomb Judson, but his version wasn’t very reliable. A better version came later from Gideon Sundback, who designed the modern zipper in 1913. The name “zipper” came from the sound it makes—popularized by the B. F. Goodrich Company when they used it on rubber boots in the 1920s.  

Who Knew: Early zippers were first used on boots and tobacco pouches—not clothing! 

WHO AM I?

  1. I was born on April 29, 1933, in Abbott, Texas. 
  1. I became a leading figure in the “outlaw country” movement, with artists like Waylon Jennings.  
  1. I wrote classics like “Crazy,” famously recorded by Patsy Cline, “Always on My Mind,” and “On the Road Again” 
  1. I am known for my distinctive voice, long braids, and my well-worn guitar named “Trigger.”  
  1. I’m also an actor, author, and activist, known for co-founding Farm Aid to support American farmers. 

I am… Willie Nelson!! Congratulations to Gidget of Mount Vernon for guessing our Who Am I correctly and taking home a $5 gift card to Watts Restaurant in Utica!

Tune in Tomorrow for Praise Thursday with Brook Abella, Gabriella, and Joe!

Thanks so much for listening!

– Joe and Gabriella 🙂