MOST OF US WEAR jeans day in, day out without giving them a second thought. But they’re a big part of fashion’s waste problem. From cotton to factory, making one pair can consume up to 7,000 litres of water. Then you’ve got denim’s stretch factor, which comes from oil-derivative elastane, making it difficult for brands to rework or upcycle the material. The good news is that several brands are taking denim into a more sustainable future, without sacrificing style. The trailblazer is ELV Denim, founded by stylist-turned-designer Anna Foster, who works with unsold denim, sewing old jeans together to make something new. Her latest collection is a collaboration with The Outnet, transforming the e-tailer’s past-season stock, which would otherwise reside in a warehouse, into a 50-piece collection. Favourites include a drop-waist denim skirt made from up to six pairs of unsold jeans, which has already sold out, and the leather gladiator skirt, made from four pairs of unsold stretch leggings. ‘Just because a garment isn’t loved the first time doesn’t mean it can’t be loved a second time,’ says Foster. Ultimately, the cost of storing surplus stock (or worse, disposing of it) can be very high. Foster doesn’t have room for sceptics. ‘This is not just a collaboration that does environmental good. Financially, this process is beneficial for business, too.’
Five thousand miles away in California, Citizens of Humanity’s new denim strategy is all about using re
