Eco Hipsters Saying No to Stonewashed Jeans

Why it matters:

While stone-washed jeans are all the rage this year, little do people know what it takes to create this look. It is actually highly toxic and energy intensive to produce soft jeans with that accidentally bleached look.

Recap:

In the production process of manipulating fabrics to attain that distressed look and feel, manufacturers are going to great lengths to keep up with the industry, even if it requires methods that have a terrible environmental impact.

There have been reports of environmental poisoning of toxic run-off from factories that are distressing and stone-washing denim jeans. This run-off is usually laden with blue dye and chemicals such as sulfur, caustic soda and hydrocyanic acid. Large quantities of potassium permanganate have also been found, a chemical once used to induce abortion now found in the local water supply.

Using the technique to soften jeans to give it a washed look takes five gallons of water and the amount of energy it takes to power a home for a day.

In addition, cotton is one of the most pesticide laden crops in the United States, resulting in the contamination of local groundwater, destruction of biodiversity and endangering the lives of farmers and local communities. It takes one pound of pesticides to make one pound of jeans.

Commentary:

As the fashion forward mavens that we are, we also choose to keep our philosophies on our backs, literally. We tout organic and vintage threads understanding the practices that some fashion labels are doing in the name of style are not acceptable.

Next time you are in the market for a new pair for bluejeans, consider buying secondhand or definitely make sure that they are organic, ensuring fair-trade wages and sweat-shop free conditions for workers.

Oh, and by the way, stone-washed is so 80’s anyways …