Wrinkle-resistant Sta-Prest trousers (a stylised rendering of “stay pressed”) were originally produced by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1964.
Marketed as being wearable straight out of the dryer with no need for ironing, the trousers were especially popular among British mods of the mid-1960s and skinheads of the late 1960s (as well as among skinhead and mod revivalists of later decades).
Produced with a heavy gauge cotton material, no amount of washes or wears would drop the front and back crease out of these trousers, so they always look smart.
Sta-Prest trousers were coated with a chemical resin and a catalyst. Creases were then made with a steam press and then the trousers were baked in an oven at 300° Fahrenheit, triggering the catalyst that made the resin bond with the fabric. Result: a permanent crease.
Other companies, such as Lee and Wrangler, produced similar styles of trousers during that same period. Lee’s version was called Lee Prest, which came in similar colours and patterns as Sta-Prest.
In recent times, Merc marketed a brand called Sta Press.
