Saturday November 21st, 2009
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Trading Denim Blues for Greener Jeans
Posted by Mira_Jacob on February 26, 2007 - 4:00am.
Everyone has a secret splurge item, that one non-necessity you'll go to the mat defending your right to spend good money on. My friend Alison has been known to buy herself a good purse or three. My dad throws his wallet at tools and gadgets. My husband spares no expense on vented summer sneakers that look unfathomably like crushed bugs. Me, I've got it bad for jeans.
I am obsessed with jeans. I love the shadow of them hanging on a clothes line, and the tidy weight of them folded in a drawer. I love their comfort, their reliability, and—now that the East Coast has caught up with the West and denim officially qualifies as eveningwear—their versatility. Growing up East Indian in New Mexico, blue jeans were the easiest way for my brother and I to shed our masala geekiness for what the Shaun Cassidy Fan Club newsletter informed us was "Californian Cool." Better yet, jeans last for years, which is good news to a klutzy girl, and better news to a grace-deficient woman.
But my heart started breaking a few years ago, when I found out about the havoc that denim production wreaks on the environment. The dangers of conventional cotton are no small shakes, and include permanent damage to the soil, water, and farm workers exposed to a toxic cocktail of pesticides. And that's to say nothing of the elaborate washing process most jeans go through, using dyes and chemicals and pumice stones to get the most coveted rock star finish.
Lucky for me, 28-year old designer and founder of Freedom of Choice Jeans, Nathan Menashe, feels my pain. Even better, he has come up with a solution. His new Cascade wash jeans are made from organic cotton and rinsed in an eco-friendlier wash, free of chemicals, enzymes and bleach.
"Overall, it's much more gentle on the environment," Menashe said.
What about the pumice stones?
"We do still use the pumice stones," Menashe admitted. "But until we can find a better way, we have to do what we can."
What Menashe can do is make a damn fine pair of jeans. The Filmore cut jeans have a slightly wider leg and more room in the derriere department, which is perfect for amply bumpered ladies like myself. They're also softer than almost any pair I've tried, though perhaps that's just my skin reacting to the first blush of non-toxicity. And the detailing is tops: U-shaped pockets and an embroidered dove on the back give these a Lenny-Kravitz-meets-Dalai-Lama feel (and not in the awkward "what on earth will they even talk about?" way).
While Freedom of Choice isn't the first to jump on the "green jeans" bandwagon, (Tierra del Forte and Edun come to mind), Menashe's aspirations come from a genuine desire to change his industry. "Too many people think that the earth is hundreds of years away from being in trouble, when the truth is, the trouble is closer," Menashe said. "My hope is that in ten years, a major part of the fashion world will move towards more eco-friendly solutions."
Menashe might do well to fully follow the trend he hopes to set—while Cascade wash comes in three different styles, not all washes at Freedom of Choice are eco-friendly, nor do all the jeans contain organically grown cotton. But until someone develops my absolute dream jean company (rock star cuts! reasonable prices! vegetable-based dyes! no copper rivets! an end to all butt cleavage as we know it!), I'm willing to support the designer in this portion of his mission.
So how much will support set me back? About $179 at Fred Segal's. But before you run across the room tearing at your Levi's, consider this: if you're like most Americans, you spend a good portion of your life in blue jeans. Probably more than in that suit/dress you forked over good cash for and wore once. So the real question becomes, what are you willing to spend for daily comfort, reliability and versatility? For me, $179 a year is a fair investment. And with Freedom of Choice under my belt, I can keep my obsession, and a little more of the planet, in check.
Freedom of Choice Jeans, Cascade Wash
Price: $179
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I could buy 7 pair of jeans for that kind of money and they could last me at least 10 years or more. Levi's and wranglers all cotton jeans -- flexible and durable.
Great article!
What's great about designer jeans is that they actually fit, are flattering, and you can wear them with a fancy top and heels and you are dressed up. Odyn and Citizens of Humanity make my favorites but contrary to the latter's name, I do not believe they adhere to eco-friendly practices...yet. But the good news is that many designers (DKNY Jeans is one) are creating new lines that feature all organic materials and are not made with chemicals that may harm the environment.
Willing to spend? Of course. You can't put a price on feeling good in a pair of jeans.
When I graduated High School in 1979, this was the song the class picked as "my" song. I love jeans, which I will no longer call "blue" jeans. I had no idea what went into making jeans. Now that I know, I will for sure look into these green jeans. I usually purchase my jeans at consignment shops, which is where I purchase most of my clothes which are not enviro friendly. Otherwise most of my clothing is organic cotton. Since I live in Wisconsin/Minnesota, I now have to get warm soon with my clothing in the coming months. I will now look into green jeans, maybe two pair, so I can wear them more often. Love this article. Keep on writing, I have learned so much from your emails!
Vicky
Buy HEMP jeans.
They outlast cotton, and are eco friendly.
I did some looking and found that not all of Freedom of Choice's jeans are made from organic cotton. I tried to locate the 'cascade wash' and haven't found any luck. I know the article mentions Fred Segal but what if you don't live in LA. Any other suggestions?
Just be careful to note that organic cotton is not great for the environment either. You may want to wear your jeans several times before you wash and dry them to save on carbon emissions from your dryer. There's a whole forum on organic cotton. Check it out and weigh in.
http://www.lime.com/forum/planet/7710/cotton_tees-100_not_so_good
You are indeed right Vicki, there are many people in the green industry that actually echo your voice. Organic cotton farming, has often been pointed out as an unsustainable practice, that acutally does more harm than good.
But you know that cotton really does feel good against your skin :-)
I'm sorry no matter how many times I wear jeans a day 179 is out of my budget. Maybe one day ! But keeping your old jeans, revamping them and adjusting them to your weight fluctuations are kinda like recycling right ? What's wrong with that? lol
Now let's say I had the dough. I'd totally buy them ! But they seem to only be available to very slim people. All of them are thin people sizes! (no offense) Im not obese or anything but Jessica Rabbit couldnt even rock those little things ! lol
Make something for the curvy green girls and we'll talk !
Hey Loren--
I'm not obese either, but I have to tell you, if we're talking about junk in the trunk, I've got plenty due to a biking addiction and, well, being brown. And these jeans made it over the booty (a minor victory we'll put on par with, say, squeezing into a pretty crowded elevator). But I can completely understand not wanting to part with the cash, so if anyone has a good suggestion for green jeans for curvy girls on a budget, feel free to let us know. We're all ears/ cheeks.
MJ
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zoo couponsOrganic clothes are wonderful to wear but people after all these years still remain crazy and some are possesive about their demin wear be it a pair of demin jeans for demin shirts. This fashion will never go out. U collect and preserve a pair of demin shirts to show to ur kids.
http://www.dorothylee.com/c-203-denim-shirts.aspx
The demin jeans is an icoin fashion clothing. For a hundred years and more people of all ages just love to be wearing a jeans.
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I really want to spice up my wardrobe with a pair of new jeans but I don't want dull blue. What do you suggest for something a bit more exciting?
JOHN
Workwear
I appreciate your post that you have shared some valuable information and also want to share that Brazilian Jeans is popular both Men and Women due its unique and variety of designs.
I'm ready to trade my Blue denmin jeans in exchange of green organic jeans but i still want it to be a designer jeans that's trendy and stylish.
Shannon.
Lyle and ScottHmm,Its good to see this type of jeans but I like some desgins of Korean Jeans .Can any one share with me in this regard....
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