Sustainable Denim: Men’s Edition
By Malia Noll
Image Source: DL1916
Men’s style is notoriously simple, and yet finding a signature pair of denim still allures many. The right fit has the power to make any man feel polished and refined, and can be worn for anything from a morning coffee run to a night out with friends. While you may be inclined to swing over to your local department store in search of an accessible pair you’ll love, we’re here to show you sustainable alternatives that go beyond the average pair of denim.
WHAT MAKES DENIM SUSTAINABLE?
There are a few factors that signify a denim brand is sustainable. First is recyclability. Many brands have found huge success in offering new styles made from completely recycled cotton or fibers, and we’re big fans. You don’t have to sacrifice quality when purchasing a pair that’s made from recycled denim or cotton—it’ll hold up just as well in the durability and style categories alike.
Another factor that marks sustainable denim is when brands use organic cotton or lyocell in place of conventionally grown cotton or other synthetic fibers. Organic cotton uses fewer chemicals and water than standard cotton. Lyocell (sometimes called Tencel) is a regenerated cellulose fiber that uses a closed-loop system that's safer for the local environment and workers, too. If you want to take a deeper dive, we wrote an entire post about why organic cotton is better.
CERTIFICATIONS WE VALUE
When shopping on your own, keep an eye out for additional certifications to ensure brands are holding themselves to higher standards for sourcing, ethical labor, materials, and more. Here are a few that pertain to the denim industry:
GOTS Certified Organic Cotton, which means the whole supply chain is organic.
Oeko-Tex, which indicates the fabric doesn't have unsafe levels of any chemicals
Fair Trade, which ensures that workers are paid fair wages for their work
Now that we’ve got the basics of sustainable denim squared away, keep reading for SISTAIN’s favorite denim picks for men!
Our Picks
Image Source: Outerknown
OUTERKNOWN
If you value comfort and want to keep it simple with style, Outerknown is for you. While most of these styles err on the casual side, they’ll undoubtedly be your laid-back weekend companion and will look better than sweats (yet feel just as comfy) any day.
Sustainability Practices:
S.E.A. jeans crafted with organic cotton in fair trade certified factory and guaranteed for life
Uses eco-friendly materials and non-toxic dyes in most of its products
Fair-trade certified — all of its workers are paid a living wage
Designs fundraising tees to raise money for causes the company believes in, like beach and ocean cleanup and environmental advocacy
Our Picks:
Ambassador Slim Fit $128
Local Straight Fit $128
Image Source: Warp & Weft
WARP & WEFT
Kick it up a notch with Warp + Weft, a company that delivers the kind of jean that can make even the most fashion-senseless man look like he knows what’s up. Their styles are absolutely modern and high-quality in a way that promises to age gracefully as the years go by.
Sustainability Practices:
A traditional pair of jeans takes 1,500 gallons of water to make, but a pair of Warps requires less than 10.
They treat and recycle 98% of the water they use.
Opt for cutting-edge Dry Ozone technology (instead of environmentally-harmful bleaching processes), making us fully compliant with International Social and Environmental & Quality Standards.
Committed to ethical practices, fair wages, reasonable hours, and positive working conditions
Our Picks:
Ord - Straight $74
Ams - Slim $74
Image Source: DL1961
DL1961
If you love classic, timeless wardrobe staples, DL 1961 will be your go-to for denim. Their designs are vintage-inspired and simple, with the kinds of washes that can be easily dressed up or down to make sure you look good no matter the occasion.
Sustainability Practices:
Sustainable fabrics to help reduce waste: Old denim and post-consumer waste is shredded into smaller and smaller pieces, then woven into new yarn with eco-friendly fibers and high-performance stretch.
The jeans are constructed and hand-finished using waterless laser and Ozone technologies in their family-owned manufacturing facilities, which are fully compliant with International Social & Environmental Quality Standards.
Average jeans take about 1500 gallons of water to produce. DL 1961 jeans take less than 10 because of the ultra-absorbent fibers and waterless techniques they use along the way. They also treat and recycle 98% of the water they do use in our in-house treatment plant.
Our Picks:
Nick Slim $158
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Malia Noll is a former public accountant turned self-employed copywriter who works with small businesses to build genuine connections to customers through strategic writing. Malia is based in Columbus, Ohio and specializes in promotional writing, email marketing and editing.
