Denim is one of the biggest polluters in the fashion industry but these brands are making change happen; creating chic, wearable jeans that are sustainably made.
Being conscious with your fashion choices goes way beyond choosing the latest trends, which is why sustainable brands are on the rise. In fact, even some of the longstanding high street brands we all know and love are making an effort to create items that reduce their negative impact on the planet.
As we consider the environmental impact of our fashion choices, we’re adopting sustainable shopping habits and choosing ethically produced pieces. From embracing vintage and charity shopping to swapping spending-sprees for clothes swaps with pals, they’re all steps in the right direction.
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It has been reported that it takes more than 7,600 litres of water to create one pair of jeans. Take into account how many pairs the average person owns – from skinnies, flared and straight leg – and that’s a lot of water waste.
Lyst’s Year in Fashion report also found that sustainable fashion is growing for designers and consumers, with people searching for specific eco-friendly materials.
With this in mind, check out our edit of the best sustainable denim brands below.
Best eco-friendly jeans:
Sézane jeans
Sézane The Brut jeans Sézane delivers French-girl elegance for any occasion. The brand has upped its sustainable credentials with the launch of its new collection Denim (r)Evolution, which uses 100 percent GOTS certified organic cotton, recycled cotton and an eco-friendly distressing processes that significantly reduce water and chemical usage. And we love ‘The Brut’ straight leg as a wardrobe staple.
Reformation jeans
Reformation Kris jeans Sustainable favourite Reformation aren’t just known for their beaut ditsy florals, they have also produced an eco-friendly line of denim, in multiple shapes and colour ways.
This timeless, relaxed-fit pair of jeans will look so good with a printed high neck top and eco-friendly trainers.
DL 1961 jeans
DL 1961 Patti jeans Eco-friendly fibres, reducing water used to produce denim, and using low emission processes are a few ways in which DL 1961 are practicing sustainability when producing their denim.
These ‘Patti’ jeans in an off-white wash are perfect for spring/summer 2021. Try with a racer back tank and white trainers.
Levi's jeans
Best sustainable jeans: Levi's Water-Less is an initiative by denim giant Levi’s in which less water is used to produce each pair of jeans, reusing water is also a key part of this process. In fact, to date Levi’s have recycled more than 129 million litres of water.
This cropped raw edge style would look great with strappy sandals and a slouchy white T-shirt.
Seventy + Mochi jeans
Eco-friendly jeans: Seventy + Mochi jeans Seasonless and long-lasting, Seventy + Mochi aims to be a consciously kind jeans brand. Constantly re-evaluating its production methods, the brand has increased the amount of recycled denim and organic cotton used.
This pair is created using 86% organic cotton, 5% recycled cotton, 7% T-400 and pre-consumer waste elastane.
Lee Jeans denim
Eco-friendly jeans: Lee Jeans Lee Jeans has just introduced IndigoodTM to change the impact of dying jeans. Replacing water with foam dye, the process reduces water by 100% along with reducing energy by 60%.
Still allowing an array of denim hues, you can get this classic zip-hem pair in five different shades of blue.
E.L.V Denim jeans
Best sustainable jeans: E.L.V. DENIM Short for East London Vintage, E.L.V Denim was founded by fashion stylist Anna Foster. Upcycling is at the heart of the brand creating new jeans from old discarded denim, Creating circular fashion, the brand aims to have a very low impact on the environment.
Shop E.L.V Denim blue contrast straight leg jeans at Lårs Labels, £245
Boyish Jeans denim
Best sustainable jeans: Boyish We are seriously impressed with Boyish Jeans’ ethical credentials. The business starts at the source to scrutinise every aspect of the production process, from ensuring that its cotton is picked by fairly paid workers to utilising vapour-spray washing machines so that machines aren’t filled with more water than necessary. And they’re PETA approved. Happy Shopping.
M.i.h Jeans denim
Eco-friendly jeans: M.i.h Jeans M.i.h Jeans introduced the Paradise capsule in June 2018: five styles in a responsible denim in partnership with Isko, the only denim mill in the world to be awarded the EU Ecolabel and Nordic Swan Ecolabel certifications.
White jeans will work any time of year – team with a tonal cream knit and tan sandals.
Re/Done jeans
Eco-friendly jeans: Re/Done Re/Done shot to Insta-fame last season, when it fast became the brand of choice for all our favourite fashion influencers. The brand helps to reduce water waste by recycling the water it uses to make its denim to create a more circular process.
Shop Re/Done 90s cropped frayed high-rise skinny jeans at Net-a-Porter, £230
Images: courtesy of brands