The Sustainable Denim Update - Vanity Fair

Outdoor brand Patagonia has wide-ranging sustainability credentials, but their sustainable denim is particularly noteworthy. Using only 100 per cent organic cotton grown without GMO seeds, synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides (to ensure no chemicals are used in the cotton farming process), they also use an innovative dyeing process that dramatically reduces the use of water, energy and chemicals and produces less carbon dioxide compared to conventional processes.

From its origins as a fashion house, Edun’s mission has been to encourage sustainable production and encourage trade to flourish in Africa. Their denim line is no different, with all jeans made in Kenya by artisanal craftsmen. Every product is certified Fair Trade and made from organic materials. Edun also works with the Better Cotton Initiative, which aims to reduce the impact of cotton production on the environment—one of the key issues when producing denim.

E.L.V. denim takes discarded pieces destined for landfill and repurposes them. What’s more, the entire process, from design to manufacturing, takes place in East London, minimizing waste, water and energy footprints. You can even make an appointment with them at Alex Eagle in Soho for a bespoke piece.

Citizens Of Humanity has been making big strides in reducing gas and energy consumption. Firstly, by adopting laser technology for distressing denim, which not only saves gallons of water versus the traditional method but also reduces gas use by 20-30 per cent. Secondly, the introduction of more efficient dyes and washing machines has helped reduce its power usage by over 70 per cent.

Manufactured in Downtown Los Angeles, Re/Done takes apart unwanted Levi’s jeans and redesigns them using water-conserving methods and eschewing harsh chemicals. The result is a line of denim pieces loved by models the world over and stocked in Harrods.

Everlane’s denim debut was six years in the making because the brand decided to wait for technology to catch up with its exacting eco-centric standards before entering the arena. Their denim offering is made in a LEED-certified facility that recycles 98 per cent of its water and relies on alternative energy sources for power. Any scraps left are then repurposed into bricks that are used to build affordable houses.

Using traditional methods, it takes 1,800 gallons of water to make just one pair of jeans. However, Aloe Jeans by AYR use just one cup, by using recycled denim. The cult jeans also help children from low-income communities enjoy outdoor summer activities as 20 per cent of every sale goes to the Fresh Air Fund.

As well as using 100 per cent organic cotton and nickel-free tacks, each pair of Kowtow jeans is washed with enzymes approved by the Global Organic Textile Standard. Why? Because it ensures a sustainable dyeing process that means no chemicals are leached into the water chain.

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