Dutch designer clothing firm G-Star Raw has claimed to have developed the first-ever cradle-to-cradle (C2C) Gold level-certified denim fabric, called the Elwood RFTPi. Developed in partnership with suppliers Dystar, Artistic Milliners and Saitex, the sustainable denim fabric is made from fully organic cotton and the cleanest indigo-dyeing process.
The Crystal Clear dyeing process uses 70 per cent less chemicals, no salts and produces no salt by-product during the reduction or dye process, thereby saving water and leaving clean, recyclable water effluent, according to a top website focussed on sustainable brands.
The announcement follows the recent release of G-Star’s EarthColors capsule collection, a series of naturally-dyed jeans, coloured with dye derived from plant waste.
The company also worked with Saitex to develop new washing techniques that ensure 98 per cent of the water used can be recycled and reused, with the remaining 2 per cent evaporating, leaving no water left behind to be wasted or released into the environment.
To further enhance product sustainability, G-Star removed all components that could not be easily recycled — such as rivets and zippers — replacing them with eco-finished metal buttons. The company is also keen to ensure all labeling and carton packaging are responsibly sourced.
G-Star partnered in 2014 with Pharrell Williams’ Bionic Yarn on its ‘RAW for the Oceans’ collection, which incorporated marine plastic and in 2015 teamed up with Calik to produce the first bluesign-approved denim fabrics.
G-Star and its mill partner have created an open-source access to their sustainable denim fabric-development processes, which can be accessed through the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute’s Fashion Positive Materials Library.
The new denim variety will be available in stores and online from February 15 next year. (DS)
Source: www.fibre2fashion.com