Did You Know?

I mean, did you know …

Cotton in our jeans accounts for 25% of ALL pesticide use
It takes 7,000 litres of water to produce ONE pair of jeans
Sandblasting jeans to distress them causes incurable LUNG DISEASE
Jeans are still produced by children working in sweatshops for 20p A DAY
Flying jeans – and other goods – around the world is a MAJOR cause of pollution
Since 2005 over 50% of jobs making clothes in the USA & UK have been lost

Whoa!! How scary is that?

BUT what are we all meant to do?

Never buy jeans ever again? WELL yes we should make our jeans last as long as possible.

BUT luckily there are simple ways to buy more ethical jeans.

6 Simple Ways To Buy More Ethical Jeans

SO next time you are buying jeans remember these SIX simple tips …

Buy pre-loved and repaired jeans (take your own back for repair)
Buy jeans made from pesticide free organic cotton
Buy jeans made with less water
Buy jeans made with NO sand blasting
Buy jeans made in fair trade factories paying a living wage
Buy jeans made locally by skilled workers

… and you know what?

IF we ALL do just one of those things, we can together make an BIG difference.

And to help you do that, here’s a – growing – list of more ethical jeans brands …

Ethical Jeans Brands

1. Pre-loved Jeans

eBay is obviously full of pre-loved jeans.

And we can do double good by buying vintage jeans from charity shops or online charity stores.

BUT you can now also buy repaired, repurposed and recycled jeans from …

MUD Jeans – lease jeans and make new jeans from old

2. Organic Cotton Jeans

More and more companies are offering organic cotton jeans.

Made with pesticide free cotton and MUCH less water.

These are some good brands to start looking out for …

Howies – super hard wearing organic cotton jeans
Monkee Genes – wide range of super stylish organic cotton jeans
Frugi – organic cotton jeans for kids, also sold on Ethical Superstore
Kuyichi – GOTS certified organic cotton jeans
Kings Of Indigo – a big range or organic jeans available in stores in the UK and online
Nudie Jeans – organic jeans for blokes and boys. They offer FREE repairs. PLUS vintage jeans and recycling of your old ones.

NOW I have to be honest. Most of these jeans are more expensivethan the average high street brand.

BUT one of the MOST ethical things we can do, is spend MORE to buy fewer clothes!

3. Fair Trade Jeans

Working conditions in textile factories worldwide have supposedly improved.

BUT many of the factories producing our clothes STILL pay less than a living wage, for over 12 hours work a day, 7 days a week in unsafe conditions, failing to recognise basic labour rights.

AND employ children!

For me, this is just too HIGH a price to pay for my jeans!

If you feel the same check out these fairtrade and fair wear jeans …

Patagonia – the outdoor clothes makers have Fairtrade sewn jeans
Fashionable – US based Fashionable have denim jeans, jackets and shirts made with B Corporation commitment to fair employment
Thought – UK based Thought have a small range of reasonably priced jeans
Nomads – UK based Nomads have a small range of coloured skinny jeans

4. Locally Made Jeans

We have lost so many skilled textile jobs in the USA and UK.

And that matters because it means all our clothes get shipped round the world causing pollution.

AND because our local communities need good jobs in which we actually MAKE stuff.

And luckily there are now some super cool companies making jeans again in the USA and Britain.

Jeans Made In the USA

Bluer – cotton and jeans manufactured in the USA, you can also sell back worn jeans
Imogen and Willie – high end made in the USA jeans PLUS classic Ts and more
Genetic Los Angeles – higher end but have warehouse sales, also offer return and recycle
Taylor Stitch – mens and women’s jeans made in the USA

Jeans Made In Britain

Huit Denim – Gorgeous if not cheap jeans made in the little town of Cardigan – once the centre of the British jeans making industry.
Community Clothing – brilliant British basics, all made here
Freddies – vintage 40s and 50s style British made jeans

So there you go.

Lots of ways you can buy ethical jeans that really won’t cost the earth.

Next time yours really can’t be repaired any more …

I hope you find some you love. Let me know.

Do save this guide for later. And share with your friends.