{"id":2558,"date":"2021-04-26T09:25:44","date_gmt":"2021-04-26T15:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.turnstyleconsign.com\/?p=2558"},"modified":"2023-12-15T11:08:19","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T17:08:19","slug":"is-denim-sustainable-your-guide-to-the-environmental-impact-of-jeans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.turnstyleconsign.com\/blog\/is-denim-sustainable-your-guide-to-the-environmental-impact-of-jeans\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Denim Sustainable? Your Guide to the Environmental Impact of Jeans"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Three<\/p>\n

For over a century, denim has established itself as one of the most versatile and popular staples of fashion. Developed as a material that could endure hard work and tough conditions, denim (particularly blue jeans) quickly caught on as a symbol of the rugged, independent American<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today, people can buy jeans as cheap as $20 and as expensive as $200+ and are worn by everyone from blue-collar workers to supermodels \u2014 they’re so popular that over 450 million pairs are sold<\/a> every year in the U.S. alone.<\/p>\n

As our society becomes increasingly environmentally conscious, the sustainability of our beloved denim staples has been called into question.<\/p>\n

So, let\u2019s learn more about denim\u2019s sustainability and how our shopping choices<\/a> can help cut back on waste!<\/p>\n

Is Denim Sustainable?<\/h2>\n

Historically, the answer has been \u201cno\u201d for a few big reasons. The production of denim is particularly wasteful and destructive, especially when it comes to water. Here are some of the biggest problems when it comes to denim and sustainability:<\/p>\n

Water Usage<\/h3>\n

Traditionally, manufacturers have used\u00a0more than 1,800 gallons of water<\/a>\u00a0to make just one<\/em> pair of blue jeans. Most of this water is used to cultivate the cotton that makes up the denim material. To put that amount of water in perspective, 1,800 gallons of water weighs as much as four cars!<\/p>\n

More water is used later on in the manufacturing process and even further down the road when we wash our jeans at home. As 2.7 billion people<\/a> around the world experience water scarcity at least one month a year, it\u2019s time to think critically about where we buy our favorite denim items.<\/p>\n

Water Pollution<\/h3>\n

Another major issue in the denim manufacturing process is the dyeing of the fabric. To give our jeans and jackets that famous blue hue, lots of harmful chemicals (and even more water) are deployed, and even more are used to achieve the \u201cdistressed\u201d look we all know and love.\u00a0All of this waste<\/span> creates a toxic sludge that leaches into water<\/span><\/a> supplies and has caused widespread contamination in China, where pollution threatens the well-being of those who live near factories.<\/span><\/p>\n

What You Can Do to Help<\/h2>\n

Examining the cost of \u201cfast fashion\u201d can turn up some ugly truths, but there are so many opportunities to cut back on waste while staying true to your fashion tastes. Let\u2019s go over some ideas to help get you started!<\/p>\n

Make Your Jeans Last Longer<\/h3>\n

Remember, jeans were originally created to endure the toughest working conditions! That means yours should last you many years (even decades, depending on the quality). Plus, they\u2019ve been in style for over 100 years, so we all know they\u2019ll always stay trendy. With that said, keeping your jeans in good condition can reduce the need to buy new ones every year. Here are a few tips and tricks to get more life out of your denim:<\/p>\n