Confession: I like denim that's undergone a good deal of torture before I buy it.

In the past, I've looked for soft, broken-in jeans that have obviously been badly battered and roughed up in a washing machine somewhere. I wasn't sure about the specifics that were involved, but I suspected that stones and acid are required to get that perfect, worn, "found in a cool thrift store" look. Sometimes, strategic fraying and a few "accidental" rips added to the overall effect, but the important thing was the wash.

But I'm completely re-thinking those expensive washes after learning about the damage that stonewashing jeans can do to the environment.

Last week, London's Guardian newspaper had an article about the toxins and chemicals that are polluting Mexican towns due to run-off from stonewashing denim. Until now, I hadn't realized that stonewashing (treating with chemicals to create a softer, broken-in feel) is so environmentally detrimental.

According to the report, toxic run-off caused by distressing denim is poisoning the water and irrigation canals in Tehuacan, a region in Central Mexico where more than 700 clothing manufacturers sell jeans to popular U.S. companies.

As a result of the contamination the area's water not only has turned a very unnatural shade of blue, but it's so rife with toxins that it burns seedlings and sterilizes large portions of farmland.

Considering that it's the time of year when many of us stock up on jeans for school, or for the cool weather that is (hopefully) right around the corner, I'm glad to have learned this before I splurge on my next pair of jeans.

Now that I know about the environmental damage caused by these washes, I'd rather splurge on a pair of jeans that are as responsibly made as they are cute.

Fortunately, there are many options for organic and fair-trade denim out there. A round-up of fair-trade designers is posted at faircompanies.com. Several of these appear to be based in U.K., but we Yanks can check out Fair Indigo, which seems like a good resource for guilt-free jeans—as well as lots of other clothes and accessories.

Meanwhile, I still think all those chic, designer washes look great. I just wish that torturing demin didn't mean torturing the planet.