Jeans to Dye for

Colored jeans are all the rage. Everything from red to green has been hitting the sidewalks, not to mention they dominated the runways.

While colors are in, dyes can be harmful to the earth. Chemicals, such as starch and caustic soda, are produced which can be inhaled by workers and washed away into our waterways destroying aquatic and animal life. Some jean companies are aware of the concerns and are working hard to eliminate our carbon footprint left behind.

M2F denim is doing their part by finding resources to reduce toxic chemicals and pollution. Using Made2Fade yarn technology, that is certified free of harmful substances, these jeans are individually colored in a dye bath. The process uses 50% less energy and water while eliminating toxic chemicals that are produced by traditional dyeing methods.

“Our eco-friendly, Made2Fade Technology® Yarn and Clear H20 Colors® Dye Process are leading the way. Together, these dynamic breakthroughs are enabling us to build a denim company committed to preserving the environment.”- M2F website.

M2F denim comes in a wide range of styles and colors with names including eggplant, chili pepper, and purple rain. You can choose the fit and color you want. This fall they have even introduced vests and jackets into the mix. Celebrities like Whitney Port and Maria Menounos have caught on to the green trend, sporting jeans and cut off shorts by the eco-friendly company. The vintage-inspired jeans run about $130 and can be purchased from retailers everywhere.

James Jeans uses organic cotton and a unique dry aging process to create the perfect “worn” look. The dip-dyed jeans are all created with dyes made from plant indigo. Available in a wide range of colors and styles, the patterns are hand-made and have couture draping techniques for a fit all your own.

Named after her husband, Seun Lim founded James Jeans in 2004. The environmentally friendly washes have become a hot commodity for celebrities like Blake Lively, Charlize Theron

, and Jessica Alba
 who want to bring a little green into their lives. The mainstream denim runs anywhere from $120-220 and can be found at places like Barney’s, Shopbop, and the James Jeans website.

Kuyichi jeans are taking it one step further. While these jeans don’t have many colors, the sustainable concepts are exciting for the eco-friendly fashion world. According to Women’s Wear Daily, for Spring 2012 Kuyichi is launching three new sustainable styles of the fabric; dry-processed, no-water-wash jeans and one constructed of Tencel, a fabric made of cellulose removed from wood pulp of eucalyptus trees.

The Dutch jean label also plans to increase its organic fabric content to 97%, aiming to make their products as sustainable as possible. “We are constantly experimenting on new sustainable concepts like recycled polyester, Tencel®, spare denim and hemp.”-Kuyichi website.  Retail prices range from $139 to $265 and can be ordered from Yoox.com or a number of places in Europe.

Here are some other great eco-conscious jean brands.

Reuse Jeans: These jeans are constructed from 80% recycled fabric to create a new, stylish pair of jeans. “We recycle fabric from the textile waste stream to manufacture eco-friendly jeans with minimal new material.”- Reuse Jeans website.

Agave Denim:  These jeans are put through the ozone washing process, eliminating toxic chemicals. The husband and wife team created the brand to “design and produce the best tailored, most beautiful and highest quality denim jeans, authentically sewn and hand finished exclusively in California“-Agave website.

Monkee Genes: An organic label out of the UK and the only jean company certified by the Soil Association. The pop art inspired colored jeans are produced with no pesticides and no chemicals. The Monkee Genes’ motto: no slave or child labor, blood, sweat, or tears.

These eco chic jeans will give you the style you want while making the earth, and your closet, a little greener.

Jody Marich is a stylist/Co-Manager by day and a fashion blogger by night, shinning the light on issues in the fashion world. A published freelancer, Jody created the fashion column “What’s Haute” for Flagler College’s newspaper and updates her own fashion blog, Tickle Me Chic, on a regular basis. She has been featured on Independent Fashion Bloggers and continues to focus on hard-hitting stories in the fashion industry.

Jeans to Dye for is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

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