Denim is a mostly indigo-dyed hard-wearing cotton twill fabric. Its considerable environmental and social impacts are linked to cotton production, bleaching and dyeing technologies, as well as finishing processes such as distressing, sandblasting and stonewashing, which all pose serious health hazards to workers and reduce garment durability. Each stage of denim production relies heavily on the use of chemicals, puts high demands on water use, and in many regions its production also contributes to severe water pollution. Further environmental impact is linked to the use stage of denim through excessive and often unnecessary laundering.(1-4) At the same time, if produced responsibly, denim has a strong potential for longevity, through both physical and emotional durability, thanks to its hard-wearing qualities and its ability to soften through wear and mold to the wearer’s body(5-7)
DENIM
