The Art Of Sustainable Deniming: The Ultimate Guide to Long-Lasting Denim
Updated: Feb 17
What Should Millenials Know About Eco-Friendly Denim and Its Future?
As we are all well aware that the concern about the environment is arousing in every state; developed or developing, which is aspiring in converting our linear systems to close loop systems. The global consideration of eco-friendly ways and manufacturing of eco-freindly and organic clothing products is in demand because consumers are asking for the user- and environment-friendly products. This has encouraged us to make sustainable products that would be effective for the brand’s sales in catching consumers’ attention, along with the environment as well. For altering our ways from modern to traditional, we are adopting that cultural heritage again through working in weaving by handlooms that are being done in many Asian countries already, because it includes distinctive artistry and intricacy in the fabric that surges its uniqueness and attracts customers.
Handlooms are a unique fabric and texture which does not match that of machine fabric because its whole lifecycle includes natural ways of working contributing to apparel as eco-friendly.
Global fashion trend of denim & impact on our environment
Denim is presently among the fastest and strongest fashion trend, in ways of complementing any colour, age, and body, it has the heart of many customers. As far as fashion trends are continuously changing with time at the drop of hat, denim is one trend which stands the test of time.
What effect do dyes have on human health and the environment?
It has a huge impact on our environment, due to its global demand so the methods used in its production including dying are leading source of polluting environment and local waterways are highly polluted posing a serious threat to the local population. Along with it, the cotton crop that is utilized in making fabric demands plenty of pesticide chemicals, as estimated that one pair of jeans can demand almost 8 gallons of water which is equal to three days of water usage by US households.
This is because of the facts that how is it made? And what are they made of? The water issue along with its durability? This includes the production phase where dyes are carcinogenic that arouse human health concerns and its sizing and mercerizing discharge is a source of devoiding people of safe drinking water, apart from these, it is no doubt that denim lasts longer than other fabrics. So, switching ways of production could be effective for human health and the environment as well.
Sustainability in fashion
What is Sustainability in fashion?
Sustainable clothing is given importance due to more awareness among people as well as regulatory standards being made for each department. They are now in mainstream fashion and are the preference of global consumers. This has affected the manufacturing of different products including denim, which is now manufactured by weaver’s fingers. It plays lovely on the looms because they are experts and form an exceptionally good product design when they start, the same as a symphony being composed by the musician. It is different in not depending on machinery throughout its lifecycle, just like the industrial procedures of warp and weft yarns pass through similar stages, but this is carried out manually.
Different companies use different methods, such as mill-made cotton yarn that is sourced in cone form and converted to hank that is dyed using natural, herbal, or eco-friendly colour either by hand or in a machine. If by a machine, this is the only process used sometimes in handloom denim requiring fuel, they are then sized by manual dipping into the solutions. This is later processed as reeled on reeled for making a wrack beam, which is then mounted to the next stage of handloom for being weaved. In the same way, the weft yarn is being reeled into the pirns through hand-based work, these levels are all low and done manually because handloom is an eco-friendly fabric of denim elevating the demand for any chemicals in the washing stages after weaving.
Other issues being pointed out to make sustainable denim includes;
Organic cotton; for sustainable denim we can grow the use of organic cotton because it reduces the utilization of toxic pesticides to a larger extent, having a low environmental impact. Learn more about organic fabric
Drying techniques; these techniques could be combined with wet processes where scrapping, distressing, and grinding is being performed to make a unique look and performance of the product.
Dyes;
How eco-friendly dye can be enviroment friendly?
eco-friendly dyes include indigo dyes which reduce the wastewater ratio to a great amount. Natural blue dyes are utilised as environmentally friendly in sustainable denim.
Recycling; through creativity old and conventionally made denim can be easily recycled, and unused material can be reused, approximately 1500 tons of waste is being recycled saving 50 million litres of water. This recycling is also being adopted by some brands in using recycled water bottles which are directly a source of plastic pollution that is presently a global issue, to be coped in making sustainable denim.
Denim washing and enzymes;
How denim washing be eco-friendly?
Washing processes can be sustainable as well, by switching to eco-friendly chemicals like enzymes which are presently being used as an alternative stone in making sustainable products. Both garment and fabric cleaning can benefit from enzyme. Enzyme utilisation has a number of economic and environmental advantages.
Ozone bleaching; this type of bleaching has specialized effects in reducing the environmental impact, having an oxidizing nature that deteriorates indigo dyes on the surface of the fabric. Dry ozone is eliminating the need for bleach and water, forming sustainable denim.
Biodegradable fabric;
Which fabric is Biodegradable?
The fabric formed from the cellulose of wood pulp that is taken from the trees being grown in sustainably managed forests is a contributory source of making sustainable denim.
Lifecycle of sustainable denim
A better cotton initiative introduced for a purpose of reducing environmental impact, along with boosting economic growth and the flow of cotton in the supply chain that is beneficial for both environment and the denim manufacturers. Another aspect of denim sustainability is recycled cotton in which used jeans that are ready for recycling are used, shredded followed by cutting, and fibre by acquiring yarn from such fibre that becomes recycled cotton.
A closed-loop system, in which waste is targeted at every level to be lowered to minimize environmental impact.
Is raw denim more eco-friendly?
Raw denim is comparatively more sustainable than pre-washed denim available on markets, due to its durability. It does not require frequent washing and does not become sand-blasted. Its most exciting feature is that the carbon footprint of raw denim is lesser than that of washed pair. This is followed by only cutting and sewing portion of the process, extracting much of the resource using aspects of denim production.
Why You Should Start A Sustainable Denim Clothes Business?
Consumers are becoming more sensitive of their clothing choices, and they are looking for products that are environmentally friendly. As a result, many fashion companies are conscious of the importance of manufacturing denim in a responsible way.
Why is sustainable denim important in today's environmentally aware world?
Consumers are looking for solutions that are both sustainable and environmentally beneficial. Denim industries are attempting to modify their sustainability in response to consumer expectations, and several companies have succeeded in producing sustainable denim. Denim production has a significant effect significant effects on the environment and the health of workers. Denim production necessitates a huge quantity of water and a variety of dyes, both of which are extremely detrimental to the environment.
They recognise the importance of denim sustainability in building a long-term business. Consumers are demanding sustainable denim as the amount of environmentally conscious people has grown. Many companies are now using various technologies to make sustainable denim that does not pollute the environment. Durable denim is in higher demand in today's environmentally conscious world. As a result, it is critical to create denim with little environmental impact.
Growth of Eco-denim
Denim is producing a range for men & women that is manufactured from environmentally friendly materials and processes. The most valuable item is denim. Denim fabric's market price was 90 billion dollars in 2019, and it's expected to reach 105 billion dollars by 2023. Eco-denim is becoming more popular.
Learn more: The Rise of Denim Jeans Manufacturers in the UK
Sustainable future of denim fashion
We are in an era of change, and fluctuating our ways of user and environmentally friendly products, as many brands are already working on this mission of making this fashion trend successful. We are also encouraged to bring sustainable denim by starting from natural products; ECOVERO is EU certified eco-label, its fibres are derived from sustainable pulp and wood, meeting environmental standards throughout their lifecycle (extraction to end of life), along with hemp that is compared with cotton in more environmentally friendly and it uses less water and prevents erosion as well which reflects its importance for the environment and human purposes will be fulfilled as well. The future of our fashion is no doubt sustainable, and with a sustainable strategy, this would progress throughout in upcoming years.
Conclusively, a modern-day wardrobe includes a good pair of jeans which is their chief element along with jackets, shirts, and bags being used in fashion today. Its conventional ways are a direct source of greenhouse gas emissions that are released in its manufacturing. However, modern ways and clothing companies are now invariably trying to make sustainable denim and adopting to handloom system. Its advanced developmental processes including the growing of organic cotton and waterless jeans are helping to maintain a sustainable approach to denim. ‘Green jeans’ are a strong notion we are contributing to adopt in our future products, coping the fashion demands and environmentally friendly ways side by side.
Ro and Ritzy will be making a mark of drastic improvement in forming sustainable clothing products, as we are encouraged to reduce the environmental footprint of denim in considering the ecological context. Our mission of greening the denim with sustainability will soon be witnessed by customers because we are in a process of forming a sustainable product for them. We are meeting the future fashion of sustainability and aspired to follow our environmental friendly mission for our customers.