Levi Strauss
李维·斯特劳斯
Levi Strauss was born in Germany on February 26, 1829. He was the youngest of six children.
李维·斯特劳斯于1829年2月26日出生于德国。他是家里六个孩子中最小的一个。
Growing up in Germany was tough on his family because they were Jewish.
在德国长大对他的家庭来说是很艰难的，因为他们是犹太人。
Many people there didn't like Jews and made it difficult on Levi and his family.
很多人不喜欢犹太人，经常找李维和他家里人的茬。
When Levi was sixteen, his father died from tuberculosis.
在李维16岁时，他的父亲因肺结核去世了。
Since Levi's older brothers were already living in America, his mother decided to move the family there.
由于李维的哥哥们已经住在美国了，所以他的母亲决定把家搬到那里。
They lived in New York City where his brothers had opened a dry goods（纺织品） business.
他们住在纽约，他的哥哥们在那里经营着纺织品生意。
While living in New York, Levi worked for his brothers. He learned about the merchant business and how to run a store.
李维一边在纽约生活着，一边为哥哥们打工。他学会了生意买卖以及如何运营一家商店。
At one point he moved to pioneer（开拓者） land in Kentucky and worked as a peddler. He would carry goods on his back from settlement to settlement selling goods.
他曾一度移居到肯塔基州的开拓者之地，在那里当一名小贩。他背着商品从一个居民点到另一个居民点，售卖货物。
Levi had heard about the California Gold Rush and thought this would be an excellent opportunity for a new business.
李维听说了加州的淘金潮，认为这将是一个做新生意的绝佳机会。
In 1853, he boarded a ship bound for California. He didn't go to California to mine for gold, he was going to open a dry goods store and make his fortune in business.
1853年，他登上开往加州的船。他去加州并不是去挖金子的，而是去开一家纺织品商店，他准备做生意赚一笔大钱。
Once in San Francisco, Levi opened up a dry goods store called Levi Strauss &Co.
李维一到达旧金山市，就立马开了一家叫做李维·斯特劳斯有限公司的纺织品商店。
One big advantage that Levi had over other stores was that he was able to get supplies from his brothers in New York.
相比于其他商店，李维有一个很大的优势在于他能够从纽约的哥哥们手中得到供应。
He sold all sorts of products including sewing supplies, clothing, canvas for tents, bedding, and tools.
他售卖各种类型的商品包括缝纫品，衣服，帐篷用的帆布，寝具和工具。
Over the years, Levi's business grew.
几年过去了，李维的生意不断壮大。
At first, he mostly supplied goods for gold prospectors（探矿者）, but as the city of San Francisco grew, he began to provide goods for the families that lived in the city as well.
起初，他主要为淘金人供应商品，但是随着旧金山市的不断发展，他也开始为居住在这里的家庭提供商品。
He also became a supplier for smaller stores and outposts located outside the city.
他还成为小商店和位于城市以外的偏远居民点的供货商。
Levi became a prominent（著名的） and respected businessman and citizen in the city.
李维成为了这个城市一位令人尊敬的商人和居民。
In 1872, Levi Strauss was approached by a Nevada tailor（裁缝） named Jacob Davis.
1872年，一位名叫雅各布· 戴维斯的内华达裁缝找到李维·斯特劳斯商议。
Davis had invented a new way to make durable（耐用的） work pants. He would hammer metal rivets（铆钉） into the pockets to make them last longer.
戴维斯发明了一种制造耐用工作裤的新方法。他将金属铆钉钉进口袋中使其更持久耐用。
Davis, however, could not make enough of them and he needed help.
然而戴维斯不能制造足够多的产品，所以他需要帮助。
Strauss hired Davis and began to manufacture the new type of pants in volume. He also patented（专利的） the rivet process.
斯特劳斯雇佣了戴维斯，并开始量产这种新型的裤子。他也将这种铆钉工艺申请了专利。
At first these new pants were made with canvas（帆布）, but eventually Strauss began to use a tough material called denim（牛仔布）.
起初，这种新裤子是用帆布做成的，但最终斯特劳斯决定用一种叫做牛仔布的坚韧材料。
The denim was dyed（被染色） blue to hide stains. Strauss called these pants "waist high overalls", but they eventually became known as "Levi's" or "blue jeans."
牛仔布被染成蓝色以遮蔽污迹。斯特劳斯称这类裤子为“高腰工作裤”，但它们最终以”李维斯“或者”蓝色牛仔裤”闻名。
The pants were very popular and soon Levi had built a large factory just to manufacture the pants.
这些裤子非常流行，不久后，李维建立了一个大的工厂专门制造这种裤子。
He continued to sell other items, but he became famous and made the most money off of his unique pants.
他继续售卖其他商品，但他的名声和财富大部分是来源于这种独特的裤子。
Levi Strauss died in San Francisco on September 26, 1902. He was 73 years old.
李维·斯特劳斯于1902年9月26日在旧金山去世，享年73岁。
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