The production of clothing, particularly denim, is one of the most polluting industries on Earth.
Have you ever thought that while creating one pair of jeans, 13 kilograms of CO2 is released into the air?
Or have you ever thought of ordinary workers in the industry?
SO… WHAT’S EXACTLY WRONG WITH DENIM?
- When dyeing the fabric, a lot of artificial dyes are used, the remnants of which are washed off into the waste water. In 17/25 samples from factories in the Chinese city of Xintang high amounts of heavy metals were found – cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and copper.
- To grow the cotton used in making denim, it takes 7,000 liters of water per item. This water is not suitable for further usage.
- To give denim vintage effects, nowadays chemical agents are used instead of natural stones and sand, as before.
- As a result of denim production, only one factory annually throws out hundreds of tons of fabric scraps. At the same time, 95% of them could be reused after processing (however, they are not).
HOW TO RE-USE?
But if each of us extends the service life of one denim garment for 9 months, the impact on the environment will be reduced by 30%.
Do you remember how in your childhood old jeans were elegantly transformed into comfortable shorts? This seems up-to-date even now!
What is more, you can create stylish interior details: rugs, patchwork blankets, table decor and so much more.
In addition, oversized shopping bags made of light denim are now super trendy and are also easy to make by yourself!
And if you don’t have enough time for hand-made stuff, you can support some conscious local and worldwide brands. Here are just a few to mention:
Upcycling production: Nathalie Ballout, Ksenia Schnaider, Facon Jacmin, Reformation, E.L.V. Denim, Faustine Steinmetz, Re/Done.
Eco-friendly production: G-Star RAW, Levi’s, J Brand, Theory, Uniqlo, H&M Conscious, AG Jeans, Frame.
Be creative and take care of nature – it is very fragile.
Katerina Chetiner
“P.S. Don’t forget, being in the center of fashion is easier than it seems!”
References: www.vogue.com/article/best-sustainable-denim-brands
www.dw.com/en/denim-clothing-sustainability-recycle-pollution/a-56951179
lenta.ru/articles/2019/06/06/badjeans/
jdeedmagazine.com/nathalie-ballout-denim-never-dies/
