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Carrying on the LS&Co. AIDS Quilt Legacy


Levi Strauss & Co. December 1, 2024

At Levi Strauss & Co., our commitment to supporting our employees and communities impacted by HIV/AIDS is woven into the fabric of our history. One of the most visible examples of this is our AIDS Memorial Quilt panel.

In 1983, the Levi Strauss Foundation became one of the first corporate funders to join the efforts to end the HIV/AIDS crisis, paving the way for others to contribute their support. In 1988, LS&Co. employees came together to create the first LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel.

Two images of the LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel. Left: a denim fabric overlaid with the words: "We, the employees of Levi Strauss & Co. dedicate this quilt to our friends and co-workers who have died of AIDS. May their memory, their spirit and their courage live on in this quilt and in our hearts. A pocketful of memories... a pocketful of names..." Right: Levi's® imagery and mementos overlaid on a section of the LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel, including the name Jim McCuire, Jaime, a Hershey's logo, a Dockers® logo, and a Levi's® two-horse pull patch.

A close up section of the LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel, featuring a black and white portrait and the name Richard B Payne written on a red scarf.

Dedicated to colleagues and loved ones lost to the epidemic, the panel was sent to the NAMES Project to become part of the broader AIDS Memorial Quilt — a monumental tapestry now comprising over 50,000 panels from around the world. Among them, the Levi’s® quilt stands as a symbol of resilience, compassion and community.

Nearly four decades later, the original LS&Co. panel remains safely preserved with the AIDS Memorial Quilt in Hayward, California.

Recreating the Quilt Panel

This World AIDS Day, through the support and proposal of LS&Co. Chairman Emeritus Bob Haas, we’re proud to unveil a replica of the panel to house in the LS&Co. Archives, ensuring that the legacy remains accessible and visible for future generations.

Serving as both a tribute and a call to action, the replica will be on display during key moments, including World AIDS Day and the San Francisco AIDS Walk. Unlike the original, the new panel features an open denim pocket, inviting members of the LS&Co. community to add new names and tributes to the quilt, allowing the quilt’s legacy to grow and evolve.

The quilt panel represents more than fabric and stitching — it’s a powerful symbol of the ongoing fight against stigma and inequity. It is a reminder that prejudice surrounding AIDS still exists today, and that many marginalized communities lack access to adequate health care.

Top: LS&Co. employees pose next to a table featuring their recreation of the LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel. Bottom: Two sections of the LS&Co. AIDS Memorial Quilt panel, including a quilted flower made of red fabric and a large quilted denim pocket.

“The AIDS Quilt bridges the history of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the ongoing fight for justice, promoting tolerance and healthcare equity through community displays and educational programs that reach millions each year,” said Maurice Kelly, chair of our Inside Out employee resource group and Red Ribbon Taskforce.