Denim brands make jeans that are sustainable and environmentally friendly, as they adopt green technology and reduce water use and waste

Denim has long been considered notoriously bad for the environment – it takes many litres of water to produce, and relies on cotton and chemical dyes

That said, the industry is moving towards lessening the impact jeans can have on the planet, from Australian brand Outland Denim to cult LA-based label Frame

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Published: 4:15am, 29 Dec 2021

In November, when US company Levi’s did a collaboration with creators from online vintage marketplace Depop in Australia, we were reminded of a few things: that denim has cross-generational appeal, and that one of the best ways to be sustainable is to give something a new lease of life.

This is particularly relevant to denim. While clothes made from the fabric are the kind of wardrobe workhorses that get better as they age – more comfortable, worn in but in a good way – denim has long been considered notoriously bad for the environment.

Denim can take many litres of water to produce, and requires the use of cotton (a notoriously thirsty crop) and chemical dyes. Then there are issues around production and traceability.

That said, the denim industry, while as susceptible to “green washing” as any other, is making strides toward lessening the impact a pair of jeans can have on the planet.

Frame has launched a range of biodegradable jeans made with plant-based Coreva Stretch Technology.

More brands are manufacturing denim using Global Organic Textile Standard (Gots) certified cotton, upcycling it and making made-to-order jeans that reduce waste, while companies such as Sweden’s Nudie Jeans will repair your jeans free of charge, no matter when you bought them.