No one can deny the power of a good pair of jeans. We’ve all got our favourite denim hanging in our wardrobes that we go back to time and time again and love it just as much as the first time we wore it. Sadly, as the climate crisis worsens, we’ve become all too aware of the impact that our beloved denim is having on the world’s resources. So you can imagine just how excited we were when we discovered that one of our favourite denim brands is making great strides towards more sustainable and environmentally-aware processes and materials.
When it comes to denim, Lee is one of the most iconic brands out there. With over 130 years of heritage, Lee has a rich history, but now the brand is looking to the future. Earlier this year, Lee announced its first ever global sustainability goals and launched its sustainability platform For a World That Works. The initiative is all about increasing the environmentally friendly materials and processes that they use to create their jeans and garments.
So how are they going to do it?
Well, by 2025, Lee is aiming to power all owned and operated facilities with renewable energy, use more than 50% sustainable synthetics, source 100% sustainably-grown or recycled cotton and they want to increase the amount of Indigood dyed products every year.
Indigood Denim is Lee’s eco-conscious range that reduces the amount of water needed by 100%, the energy required by 60% and the waste created by 60% by using an innovative foam dye applicator instead of the traditional indigo dyeing process of water vats and chemical baths. This means that we can still enjoy great denim without worrying about what impact it has caused.
It’s pretty impressive stuff.
And if that isn’t enough of reason to fall in love with Lee, we’ve spotted some designs that we just can’t wait to wear.
[The Carol Jeans ](https://eu.lee.com/uk-en/shop/women/shop-by-category/jeans/carol-in-vintage-danny-L30UPOAV.html?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=inspiration&utm_campaign=fspaign=fs)
A high rise waist, a straight leg and a cropped ankle, these jeans are a modern update on a classic. Even better, they’re made from recycled fabric to give a very wearable 14 ¾ oz dark marbled denim that you can pair with almost anything in your wardrobe!
The Seventies knew how to do denim right and these A-Line Flares bring all the best of the Seventies with them. Crafted in a gorgeous 11oz rigid, recycled denim, they sit high on the waist and drop into Lee’s widest flare yet.
These jeans have a definite Nineties vibe about them, with a higher rise on the waist and wide parallel leg. Composed of a sustainable blend of cotton an lyocell, they’ve got a retro appeal with a finish that’s created using an eco-stonewash process.
We love the high waist/skinny thigh/boot cut design of these Breeze Boot jeans, and we love it even more than they’re made from recycled yarns and brass buttons, and are finished with Lee’s sustainable Crystal Clear process.
When it first crafted, the Belted Union made Lee the go-to for denim, and now over 100 years later, it has the same classic appeal. This version, however, is made from 11oz rigid Jelt denim that is made from recycled fibres to give its high waist, wide leg silhouette.