The last looms weaving selvedge denim in America

These are some of the last looms in America still weaving selvedge denim. The nearly 80-year-old Draper shuttle looms once helped produce the denim behind generations of Levi's 501s, one of America's most iconic blue jeans. After surviving multiple mill closures, 45 of these historic machines have found a new home in Trion, Georgia. Preserving them isn't just about saving old machines. It's about preserving a way of making denim that modern mass production largely left behind. Their story is part of the latest episode of "Curiosities of the South," which explores how America lost much of its denim industry, how Japan became the global leader in premium selvedge denim and whether American-made jeans can make a comeback. Subscribe to the AJC's YouTube channel and watch the full episode on September 21. Credits: AJC | Cone Denim | Getty Images | New York Public Library | Paramount Pictures | UNC-Chapel Hill | Warner Bros. Entertainment