Levi’s has ascended to a rarified air, with its name being synonymous with a whole product category, similar to something like Band-Aids or Kleenex. So sure, there are other jeans brands—great ones.

Back in the 90s, kids were sullenly rocking out to grunge music and car makers were busy making alternate-universe versions of cars they already had on sale. Witness the Explorer/Navajo duo, or the ...