Are Jeans Sustainable?

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Jeans are the must-have of just about any closet. But as trendy as the pants are, they’re rather harmful to the environment.

On average, it takes 1500 litres (about 396 gallons) of water to produce a single pair of jeans.

Jeans are one of the least eco-friendly clothing items, but brands are taking steps to improve.

As you may know, Levi’s is one of the biggest – if not the single biggest and longest denim brand globally. It’s also one of the sustainable fashion brands. In 2010, Levi’s launched the Better Cotton Initiative, which trains farmers to use less water, pesticides, insecticides, and synthetic fertilizers when growing cotton plants.

Now, the brand has ramped up its sustainability efforts to all aspects of its business. From manufacturing techniques to use organic cotton, less water and plant-based dyes to introducing a second-hand program where used denim is re-sold rather than sent to landfills to garbage.

Why Levi’s jeans?

Levi’s jeans are sustainable for many reasons, including their trims, threads and material used.

Trims & threads. Carefully calibrated to ensure it meets recycling specifications, allowing it to have a second life when it’s worn out.

• Fibre Stage. Cotton and Circulose are being used, in which comprised of 50 percent recycled content from old jeans.

How long do Levi’s jeans typically last?

A single pair of Levi’s jeans can last over eight years. if you are the type of person wearing jeans every day with good care, then they can last upwards of a decade. However, don’t forget there are several factors that determine how long jeans will last, such as material, care routine and what activities they are worn. These factors play a part in the longevity of jeans.

Levi’s jeans were originally created for the working man in mind, so it was understood they might be used in some of the toughest, dirtiest outdoor environments. In 1934, Levi’s introduced its first-ever blue jeans for women.

“Levi’s receive a U.S. patent for an improvement in fastening pocket openings. By adding metal rivets to work pants, which would be known as blue jeans, they created stronger pants for working men,”

Are Levi’s jeans affordable?

A pair of Levi’s jeans typically cost $65 CAD to $120 CAD. With sales promo and discount, the price becomes much cheaper. A single pair of jeans for men is around $36 CAD after discount and it’s tagged as sustainable. A pair of classical Wedgie Fit Ankle jeans for Women is about $69.99 CAD to $128 CAD. With price promo, the price of women’s jeans can be lower than $49 CAD.

Beyond the sustainability benefits, Levi’s also makes sure their factory workers have all the benefits, ethical supply chain management and additional donations to support animals.