When Deb Ambar, a lifelong Levi’s® fan, started planning her wedding, she knew something was missing: her father, Ronald “Ronnie” Ambar, who passed away in 2022 from heart surgery complications. He had always been a huge part of Deb’s life, and the thought of celebrating without him just didn’t feel right. She wanted a way to carry Ronnie’s presence with her — not only in spirit, but in a tangible, meaningful way.
That’s when Deb turned to a pair of his old Levi’s® jeans.
“The one thing I couldn’t let go of after he passed were all his Levi’s® jeans,” Deb said. “My dad loved a pair of Levi’s®, and he had so many! I ended up keeping them all in a suitcase, trying to figure out what to do with them as I knew they meant something bigger to me.”
Worn in and full of memories, the old jeans were the perfect way to bring Deb’s dad along with her on her big day. So, Deb reached out to Levi Strauss & Co. with a request: Could we take her father’s jeans and turn them into something she could wear down the aisle?
For the team at our Eureka Innovation Lab, the answer was an easy yes.
“When I reached out to Levi’s® on LinkedIn, it was truly a shot in the dark. I figured, what do I have to lose? I was so taken back when I heard back within two days! I was put in touch with the team and they were so thoughtful in their questions to make sure they got to know me, my dad and our story to deliver something special.”
“We felt how much this meant to her, and we wanted to create something really special. Clothing holds so many memories, and sometimes they’re the best way to keep a loved one close. Our team came together, with Deb alongside us every step of the way, pouring over every detail to make sure it was perfect,” said Bart Sights, head of Eureka Technical Innovation. “This was more than just a project — it was a way to keep her father’s memory alive not only on her big day, but every day.”
After consulting with Deb, the Eureka team came together to create a truly unique collection. A one-of-a-kind wedding jacket, crafted from a patchwork of Ronnie’s actual jeans, served as a physical reminder of Deb’s dad on her big day. A green Levi’s® tab — a nod to Brazil, where her father was raised and where Deb was born — sealed the custom tribute blazer with a personal touch.
“That green tab was such a subtle detail, but it carried so much weight,” said Raymond Crisostomo, Development Finishing associate and pattern maker on the project. “It was about representing her family’s roots.”
The team didn’t stop there, though. To make things even more memorable, they also created a custom jacket for Deb to wear during her bachelorette party, featuring Swarovski crystal details and Ronnie’s nickname for her in chain stitch embroidery.
“That detail really hit home for us,” said Irene Gonzales, Apparel Development technician and sewer on the project. “You could feel how much her dad meant to her, and we wanted to make sure that love was stitched into every part of the design.”
To complete Deb’s look, the team made a matching denim headband, featuring a chain stitch embroidered “Bride” and a detachable veil — so even as she stepped into her new chapter, a piece of her dad would be right there with her.
In line with our commitment to sustainability, and to preserve Ronnie’s memory, the team repurposed every piece of denim into upcycled denim patchwork bags for guests.
“It was important that nothing went to waste,” said Elena Corona, Digital Apparel developer, who helped design the patchwork pieces. “These jeans were the last physical piece of her dad, so we wanted to make sure every last piece found a new purpose.”
“This project reminded us all why we do what we do,” added Raymond. “And in this case, we got to help someone keep a piece of their father close on the most important day of their life.”
On October 6, 2024, Deb walked down the aisle wrapped in the love and memories of her father. The custom tribute blazer was hung on the back of Ronnie’s empty chair as she walked down the aisle, ensuring that his presence was felt as she stepped closer to the altar. Deb’s new husband also honored his late grandmother by hanging her jacket on her empty chair, creating a shared tribute to their loved ones.
“The process of connecting with Levi’s® and chatting through what we could do with his jeans was in a way cathartic as it felt like I was finally able to honor him and keep his spirit alive during this huge milestone in my life,” said Deb. “They went above and beyond with their attention to detail and care. Every piece came with a handwritten note on what they created and why. I’m forever grateful to the team for what they did and for this experience.”
