Everybody believes Levi Strauss invented denim. The truth is, no one really does know. Nobody knows what denim was originally used for. Some people believe that countries along the Nile River used denim in their cloths and shoes. What we do know is that the American government used denim as tents during wars. Americans thought of denim as lower than a equal to canvis. Denim was the closest thing to canvas they had, and that is why they sent denim to Levi instead of canvas.