Why do we have that small pocket on Jeans?

As you put your hand in your jeans pockets, your finger occasionally catch on that tiny pocket inside the big pocket. Why do we he have this little pocket on jeans?


The small pocket on jeans is known as a “watch pocket” because before 1868, wristwatches hadn’t been invented yet and instead people carried “pocket watches” on chains or fobs. Whilst some people kept these in their waistcoat pockets or inside their jacket pockets, jeans provided another option for convenient placement of these watches, kept separate from other pockets so that the clock face wouldn’t get scratched.

Wristwatches only became popular around the 1920s.

What do we use these watch-pockets for today?

Since wristwatches have almost completely replaced pocket watches, the “watch pocket” in jeans has become obsolete. However, there are several modern uses for the watch pocket you can try for yourselves:

  • Use it as a coin pocket: Although it’s a bit deep which makes it difficult to reach the small change you put in here, its depth also means that these coins won’t fall out very easily.
  • Use it as a music player pocket: It’s great to hold a small ipod or mp3 player.
  • Use it as a comb pocket: You can fit a small comb in there for any hair emergencies.
  • Use it as a floss pocket: A small pack of floss can fit in there for spinach-in-teeth emergencies. Alternatively it’s great for storing toothpicks. Just be careful not to prick yourself!
  • Use it as a mouth freshner pocket: A small pack of gum or mouth-freshener can fit in there.
  • Use it as a plectrum holder: Plectrums are so easy to lose. Never lose them again with your very own plectrum pocket!
  • Use it for your favourite cosmetic: It’s great as a lipstick or lip balm pocket. Alternatively, it can store a small tube of mascara, or even a small mirror. A nail file also fits snugly in here but beware if you’re going to be sitting – these may snap if not strategically placed!
  • Use it as as plaster pocket: Perfect for band-aids. Recommended for clumsy folks.
  • Use it as as tissue pocket: You never know when you might need one.
  • Use it as as lighter pocket
  • Use it as a key pocket
  • Use it as a USB memory stick pocket
  • Use it as as ticket pocket: The technical tailoring term for the watch pocket is a “ticket pocket” and this is quite apt because you can genuinely use it for ticket-storing purposes. You can use it for train tickets, bus tickets or cinema tickets. Warning: Only put tickets in here if you don’t mind them getting very scrumpled..
  • Use it as a swiss army knife pocket: In case you need a can opener or corkscrew at a second’s notice.
  • Use it as a pen /pencil holder: Stick a little folded piece of paper or notebook in there alongside that pen or pencil and you’re set for all urgent note-taking eventualities. Talking of pieces of paper, this pocket is also fantastic to store shopping lists.
  • Use it as a snack holder: It’s the perfect size to put a small snack bar.
  • Use it as a flag holder: It’s Independence Day and your arm is getting tired from waving your flag. Never fear, flag-holder-pocker is here! Not just for Independence Day! Also useful for any everyday flag use.
  • Use it as a wand holder: For extreme Harry Potter fans.
  • Use it as a thumb warmer: Ok, so it’s not the comfiest of pockets for your thumbs, but it’s skin tight so will provide lots of body heat to warm those digits in no time!

Related Products

shy peekaboo mousepad Denim Pockets speckcase Denim Texture kedsshoe Blue Denim tie

Note:
This site is working in affiliation with Amazon.com (for USA visitors) and zazzle. If you like a product that was recommended anywhere on this website, please consider buying these products via the links on this site, to help keep this website running. Thanks :)

This entry was posted in Culture and tagged . Bookmark the permalink.

2 Responses to Why do we have that small pocket on Jeans?

  1. Noel Loh says:

    I really enjoy visiting this site daily, always fresh and reliable content. Keep it up!!

  2. Katharine says:

    It’s also used to hold in the big pocket, jeans without watch pockets have issues with the inside of the big pocket coming out to play peek-a-boo!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>