Synopsis

Four lifelong friends face their first summer apart after discovering a pair of jeans that mysteriously fits each of them perfectly. As the pants travel between Greece, Mexico, South Carolina, and Maryland, each girl encounters romance, family conflict, grief, and personal change. Their shared garment becomes a symbol of the friendship that keeps them connected despite distance and growing up.

Factoids & Trivia

• The film adapts Ann Brashares' 2001 young adult novel, with a screenplay by Delia Ephron and Elizabeth Chandler.

• Principal photography began on May 17, 2004. Although the story sends one friend to a soccer camp in Mexico, much of that setting was built around Kamloops, British Columbia. Cabo San Lucas was used for exterior material, while some of the waterfront scenery was enhanced with computer-generated imagery.

• The Greek portions were filmed on Santorini, including the village of Oia. British Columbia locations also stood in for parts of the American story.

• The magical jeans were represented by multiple pairs of secondhand Levi's, tailored so that each pair fit the actress wearing it. The original pants were later preserved in the Levi Strauss archives.

• The moment when the friends realize the jeans fit all of them was achieved without elaborate visual effects. The filmmakers used carefully staged handoffs and old-fashioned screen trickery to make the discovery appear natural.

• The production used mules and a donkey for scenes on Santorini. The animals regularly traveled the island's paths, and their owner remained just off camera to guide them.

• Ann Brashares was not formally involved in the production, but she said the filmmakers welcomed her opinions and that she was pleased with the finished adaptation.

• The film's success led to the sequel The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2, released in 2008, and helped establish the series as a durable example of a commercially successful teen film centered on female friendship rather than competition.