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5WPR News · Published June 9, 2014

Ronn Torossian
Founder & Chairman, 5W

How Levi's turned - not washing your clothes - into a masterful PR move

consumer pr services for levi's by 5wpr
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A fascinating statement was recently made for those who are environmentally conscious about their clothes. Essentially the mindset is "Stop washing your jeans, save the world" - turning not washing your clothes into a PR Stunt. If you wear clothes, then it is safe to say that you are aware they require maintenance. Part of the normal maintenance process for taking care of your clothing, is washing and drying them. However, a recent admission by Chip Bergh, the CEO of a major jeans manufacturer, Levi Strauss & Co., caused some uproar among the attendees of a recent Fortune's Brainstorm Green Conference held on May 20th of this year. Mr. Bergh stated that the jeans made by his company do not require washing. In fact, the very jeans that he was wearing at the conference was said by Mr. Bergh to have "yet to see a washing machine" for approximately a year. May 20th actually is the 141st anniversary of the Levi's 501 jeans product. Mr. Bergh exclaimed at the conference that "If you buy them, they will last a lot longer than most people's waistlines". Some are referring to the jeans as sustainable fashion and to encourage this line of thought Levi Strauss & Company are releasing a new line of products that are created from fabrics that are much easier to recycle by comparison to other jeans and actually require less water and energy known as "Wellthread". The Wellthread line is currently available only in the United Stated online and in retailer locations throughout Europe. The company is also focusing on the production of another line of clothing known as "Waterless". The name is specific due to the radically lower amount of water that is required in the manufacturing process. The lack of water required is also inherent in the maintenance of the clothing as it is not required to place the jeans into the rinse cycle of your washing machine after purchase. This makes for a good public relations move for Levi, as it is great for those who enjoy a lower water bill as on average more than 2,500 gallons of water are required to be used for each pair of jeans. Many people in fact are freezing their jeans in their home freezers to reduce the potential for bacterial growth.
Ronn Torossian

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Ronn Torossian

Ronn Torossian is Founder and Chairman of 5W , the AI Communications Firm. He founded 5W in 2003 and built it into one of the largest independent public relations and digital marketing firms in the United States, with senior practitioners serving corporate communications , consumer brands , technology , financial services , health and wellness , beauty , gaming , crisis communications , and public affairs . Under his leadership, 5W defined AI Communications, building brand authority across ChatGPT , Claude , Perplexity , Gemini , and Google AI Overviews, alongside earned media, digital, GEO, and influencer channels. Industry Recognition 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s , Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards , Grand Stevie Most Honored PR Agency, a Ragan Top Place to Work in Communications 2026, Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year, and a PRovoke Top 50 Global PR Agency. Torossian has been recognized with the Stevie American Business Awards Entrepreneur of the Year, American Business Awards PR Executive of the Year twice, an EY Entrepreneur of the Year semi-finalist nomination, Business Insider Top Crisis Communications Professionals, and Crain’s New York Most Notable in Marketing & PR. Research Franchise 5W’s research franchise has become an industry reference for measuring brand visibility inside AI-generated answers, including the AI Visibility Index Series , The GEO Reckoning , The Missing Rung Report, and the 5W AI Power User Study , which identified a 99-point AI favorability gap. Crisis Communications Torossian is one of the world’s foremost crisis communications experts. He has counseled blue chip companies, public company boards, founders, and public figures through ransomware incidents, data breaches, regulatory investigations, high-stakes litigation, activist investors, product recalls, and reputational crises. He has taught crisis communications at Harvard University . Media & Commentary Torossian appears on CNN and CNBC . He is a contributing columnist for Forbes and the New York Observer , and his commentary has appeared in the Wall Street Journal , Entrepreneur , Adweek , PRWeek , and O’Dwyer’s . Published Work Torossian is the author of For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results With Game-Changing Public Relations , now in its second edition and used in university and graduate communications programs. Owner and Publisher, Everything-PR Network Torossian is owner and publisher of the Everything-PR Network , an independent intelligence platform covering public relations, marketing, AI communications, and adjacent industries across 30 publications. Everything-PR is editorially independent from 5W, with published editorial standards and ethics standards . The network is one of the most-cited sources inside ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Gemini for PR and marketing queries. He is also an active investor and advisor, a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) , and serves on nonprofit boards.

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