Jeans: Everlane | Top: H&M | Shoes: Dolce Vita via Ban.do Warehouse Sale

photography by Monica Boss

I’ve professed my endless love for Everlane many a time before on my ac(tee)vism posts and on Instagram, but I’m going to go on and on (again) about another incredible initiative this brand has taken on. Everlane launched a denim line last fall. Not only is the denim incredibly reasonably priced ($68-78), but it’s made in the world’s cleanest denim factory. The factory, which is in the Đồng Nai Province of Vietnam, is a LEED-certified facility. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a widely used green building rating system and “provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings”. Even beyond this certification, however, the Everlane denim factory has undertaken a number of important initiatives specific to issues that come along with ordinary denim production.

Producing denim is incredibly water-intensive, often wasting 1500 liters of water per pair. Everlane’s denim only wastes .4 liters of water as a result of natural evaporation. This comes in the way Everlane washes their denim. Everlane, instead of using standard “belly” washing machines, have a closed water system and efficient jet washing machines. Additionally, the factory has a state of the art filtration system that removes toxins and sends clean water back into the system. Because of this closed system, Everlane recycles 98% of the water in its plant. And even cooler? The water is filtered so well that it is clean enough to drink.

Everlane’s denim factory is also committed to using renewable energy. In traditional denim factories, jeans are put through large drying machines. Everlane air-dries their jeans until they are 85% dry before putting them in a drier. The factory also has solar panels throughout the property. Through Everlane’s commitment to renewable energy, “the factory has reduced its energy usage by 5.3 million kilowatts of power per year—and reduced CO2 emissions by nearly 80%”.

And as if this wasn’t enough, Everlane uses the toxic sludge byproduct of denim for good. According to Everlane, “All denim creates a toxic byproduct called sludge, but at Saitex, the sludge is extracted and shipped to a nearby brick factory. Mixed with concrete, the toxic material can no longer leech into the environment. The resulting bricks are used to build affordable homes. So far, the factory has built ten.” It’s incredible to see Everlane taking on all of these environmental initiatives, as well as positively impacting the community surrounding the factory. And on top of that, the fact that Everlane is able to create these premium jeans ethically and sustainably, while still offering them at a price below $100, is incredible.

Shop Everlane’s jeans below!

Modern Boyfriend

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