BEHIND THE JEANS

Having spent the past year in elasticated waistbands and baggy sweatshirts, the return to denim might feel a little daunting. But that said, now that the world is tentatively starting to open up once again, the idea of squeezing into some tight jeans feels like a welcome return to normality. And with that, comes an urge to refresh and update one’s denim collection.

But before you jump into a new pair of denims, it’s worth considering the environmental and social impact of this fabric. Denim is heavily cited as being one of the most environmentally damaging parts of our wardrobe. In fact, it’s heavily reported that it takes an eye-watering 7,000 litres of water to create just one pair of jeans. What’s worse, much of this water contains harmful chemicals, pesticides and coloured dyes that cause permanent destruction to ecosystems and local communities when put back into the waterways.

If you’re looking to invest in new denim pieces for your wardrobe this season, fret not, for there are a few sustainable clothing brands making a conscious effort to produce denim that has a reduced impact on the planet. Take, for example, Portuguese clothing brand, Salsa. Renowned for their best-fitting jeans, Salsa has made a name for themselves as the pioneers in denim. They create jeans that are built to favour and enhance the body, satisfy the needs for both comfort and style, and offer the very best in casual wear. Most recently, the brand has been making serious efforts to lessen the impact denim can have on our environment. “A few years ago, we started to explore new ways of making jeans that are less harmful to the environment and to people,” explains You Nguyen, Chief Product Officer at Salsa. “We invested in new technologies; we developed new processes; we partner with our suppliers and even some of our competitors to develop best practices.” Although a recent effort, sustainability has been at the core of Salsa since its conception in 1994. “For some, sustainability is a marketing buzzword. For us, it is a deep belief that we can do better,” tells Nguyen. “A belief that how we create products and how we operate our business can significantly improve not only the environment but also the community in which we operate, in Portugal and abroad.”

Using lyocell in many of their denim garments, it significantly reduces the ecological impact - not to mention it’s biodegradable and produced from renewable raw material wood. “Another material we use in our jeanswear is Refibra, which is also Tencel, but it’s made out of upcycled cotton scraps that would go to waste, then mixed with wood pulp to create new fibres,” informs Nguyen. “Not stopping there, Salsa has its very own made-to-order collection, Star, which uses Repreve polyester,” he explains. “This fibre is made from recycled plastic bottles collected from the ocean. It is a versatile fibre that we also use in our jackets.”

At the heart of Salsa is community “Salsa was born in a small town in the north of Portugal,” tells Nguyen. “We grew with the people of the region, we started out as a little family and although we’re bigger now - we still feel very much the same. In fact, many of our people were born or live close by. Our team is made up of neighbours, friends and family.” This value is something that falls in line with the brand’s sustainable ethos. “Many of our local suppliers have been working with us for many years,” explains Nguyen. “Our success is co-dependent. We have grown over the years and we are now sourced in the Far East but over 35% of our production is still local. This has a positive impact on the local economy but also on sustainability as we are reducing our footprint.”

Although Salsa has made huge strides in pushing for sustainability with their denim collections, there is, of course, more that needs to be done. “By 2023, every single pair of Salsa Jeans will be produced using less water in the finishing process in comparison to the traditional washing process,” informs Nguyen. “In other words, our entire denim collection will use less water – up to 85%. This translates into 82,000,000 litres saved in the next three years.” Further to that, “we are committed to delivering this water-saving without compromising on the quality, the fit and the beautiful indigo washes of our jeans. Beyond these two key initiatives, we are already working on other exciting projects.”

With denim jeans being the backbone of many wardrobes, the turnaround of buying new pairs is just as damaging to the planet as their creation. This is why it’s important to really care for your denim pieces. Prolonging the life of your denim jeans saves you the turmoil of having to shop for another pair but also makes a huge difference to our planet. Below, You Nguyen, breaks down exactly how to care for your jeans so you buy less and wear more.

HOW TO PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR JEANS:

Step 1:
Choose quality over quantity. Cheap jeans may sound exciting but they are often made with poor fabrics and craftsmanship. A pair of high-quality jeans may be more but are worth the investment. To quote Aldo Gucci, “Quality is remembered long after price is forgotten”.

Step 2:
You should also be careful washing your jeans. Minor stains should be spot cleaned, with water and detergent instead of washing them in the washing machine (which will further wear down the fabric). If really needed, the tip is to wash your jeans inside out. This will protect them from fading, as well as wear and tear from the washing machine. When drying them, always try to line-dry, as clothes dryers can shorten the lifespan of your jeans.

Step 3:
Last but not least, be creative! Start mending and patching your jeans. Denim is the original canvas for you to express your individuality. Customise, upcycle, give your worn-out jeans a second life and have fun in the process.

SHOP THE SUSTAINABLE DENIM EDIT:

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But if you’re not quite ready to get back into great fitting denim just yet, we’ve discovered a new exciting Irish brand that specialises in sustainable sleepwear. Take a look at their collection and get to know the brand in Sweet Dreams.