With fall right around the corner, we are sharing some of our favorite sustainable denim options to add to your wardrobe. The denim production process can be extremely wasteful, so it is important to find brands that aim to solve for this issue. Also, aim to buy secondhand or vintage whenever possible!
First, the production, manufacturing, and packaging processes in denim requires a large consumption of water. Second, The finishing processes, which include dyeing, washing, and special visual effects, such as stone-washing, also consume large quantities of water. According to Levi Strauss, 3,781 litres of water are used during the production and use phase of one pair of 501® jeans, and 33.4 kg of CO2 is created throughout its lifetime (Fashion Revolution).
Buying vintage or reworked denim and seeking out brands that prioritize sustainability and waste reduction are great ways to be more environmentally friendly when adding to your wardrobe. We have curated a list of denim brands with sustainability pledges who are doing their part to reduce the waste in this industry.
1. Boyish Jeans
Boyish Jeans is a collection of sustainable women's denim designed in Los Angeles. Each collection is centered on vintage silhouettes with a modern update, all available at an attainable price point. Boyish jeans only use 1/3 the amount of water that regular denim uses and they recycle all of their water so no water is polluted in the process.
2. RE/DONE
RE/DONE denim was founded on the principles to restore individuality to the luxury fashion space, a movement to keep heritage brands relevant, and a movement to create sustainable fashion. RE/DONE reworks vintage denim and creates unique pieces, and works to give customers the experience of hand picking their vintage denim piece.
3. DL 1961
DL 1961 is a family-owned company that’s been in the denim business for decades. Over the years, they have dedicated themselves to creating the most optimized facility possible for water, energy, and dye use; as well as creating a vertical supply chain, allowing them to control and audit the entire process. They also use eco-friendly fibers which are blended into custom-blended yarns and high-retention fabrics. The fibers start with certified cotton, then they add in technologically advanced fibers for minimal environmental impact and maximum quality. Whether it's Modal®, Tencel™, or Refibra™ Lyocell, all the Lenzing™ fibers they use are made from cellulose which comes from a renewable wood source and are known for their biodegradability.
4. Justice Denim
Justice Denim is an Australian company that follows a zero waste model and is constantly working to implement more sustainable practices into their denim production. In addition to creating sustainable denim, they also have a heavy focus on rescuing children from being sold into child slavery. Read more about their extensive impact here.
5. Levi’s
Levi’s has created high quality denim for years, and for them, it’s about making better choices like sourcing more sustainable materials such as rain-fed cottonized hemp and finding ways to use less water. In 2011, Levi’s rolled out Water<Less® innovations, and since then has saved more than 3.5 billion liters of water from the finishing process and recycled over 5 billion more. Vintage Levi’s are also a great form of sustainable denim, and are created to last a lifetime.
6. E.L.V. Denim
E.L.V. DENIM jeans and jackets are designed and produced in East London using local factories and ateliers keeping the carbon footprint to a minimum. E.L.V. DENIM jeans are made with old discarded denim transformed into modern, sophisticated designs, where the material has zero impact on the environment.
7. M.i.h Jeans
M.i.h Jeans is a British based denim brand which has reduced its water consumption by 85% compared to a standard jean and achieved a 54% reduction in carbon emissions. You can read more about their sustainability manifesto here.
These are great brands to consider when buying new, but if you want to up your thrifting game to find some amazing pre-loved items you can read more in our post about navigating thrift shopping online.
