Finding the right pair of jeans is a very personal journey. Sometimes it can be a long, hard journey fraught with many (many) failed attempts, especially if you are on the other side of size 36! Once you have found the right pair though, it is life changing and likely to start a relationship that lasts for years. I am an advocate for buying second-hand but there are a few things that I do invest in new – jeans being one of them, largely because a good pair of jeans will last for years. That said I do try to find the most sustainable pair of jeans from a company that is committed to improving their sustainability.
I am not the biggest fan of clothes shopping so very often I just want to find what I need, buy now and check out. When it comes to jeans, however, a little more time is needed to find the right pair because it is such a wardrobe basic – it has to be right and for me, it has to be sustainable which does narrow the choices down substantially.
Clothing brands are realising that this is not just something the hippies care about but is that is a priority for a growing number of people, so many are making changes to how their clothes are produced.
When it comes to jeans these are a few brands who are trying to make changes and improve how they are doing things.
G-Star – They have set some great goals for their company in terms of sustainability and how they treat those who are making their clothes for them. They have an entire section dedicated to their sustainable commitment which does show some level of transparency and effort into improving how they make their clothes.
When it comes to their jeans they have a great selection but they could do some work on their plus size selection.
Mango – This UK brand have also made changes to make their clothes more sustainable! They have a holistic approach which has seen over 42tons of clothes donated or recycled and they are improving their packaging to make it more eco-friendly and recyclable. Their aim was to have their Tier 1,2,3 factories publicly disclosed by 2022 which shows a commitment to transparency to their sustainable initiatives. You can download their sustainability report off their website to track their progress in this area.
I have a pair of their jeans and they are super comfortable and you can get most of their styles in plus sizes.
Cotton On – Cotton On and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship. They are one of two brands that Kiara wears so we have had to buy from them over the years but their sustainability rating is not great overall. But they have published some big goals in terms of sustainability but have put some pretty generous timelines onto those goals. One of the positives though, they are members of the Better Cotton Initiative which is an initiative aimed at helping cotton farmers farm better while restoring and protecting the environment. This is a great start in making sure that their cotton farmers are protected and receive adequate compensation.
Cotton On jeans are great if you have kids who have sensory issues, they are the only jeans Kiara has ever worn. Their adult selection is also great if you are on the smaller side!
Everyone needs a good pair of jeans and it is not always possible to find a thrifted pair so if you are going to invest in a new pair, make sure you find out how they are made.
11 Responses
It’s great there is so much more sustainable clothing available. I believe I bought sustainable jeans for my daughters before. It’s great more brands are making the effort.
I’m so glad you shared this. I’ve made a commitment to going with sustainable goods whenever possible. Clothing has been more difficult to find than I expected!
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Jeans are definitely hard to shop for. When I find a brand/fit/size I like I buy a few of them. Some of the jeans in my closet have been there for many years and still fit. I wear them until they are falling apart to try to be as eco-friendly as possible.
It’s good to know about those brands and what they’re doing to try and be sustainable. I do find it tough being sustainable when I am a larger size, but I like to try x
It’s good to know about those brands. i like to buy sustainable goods whenever possible.
Buying ethically and sustainably has become so important to me the older I’ve gotten and I’ve learned about the world behind production. Thanks for sharing!
I have been thinking more about buying clothes that are eco-friendly. It is nice to have this information to make a better informed decision when I shop.
I am all for eco-friendly and ethically made clothes. In name of fast fashion people are following dangerous trends. It’s good to have correct information before you shop.
Jeans are one of those purchases that tend to last a while (compared to other clothing) so having some sustainable brands is really good to know! Thank you for sharing.
honestly speaking jeans are among my best and lasting clothing’s i own. especially if you buy the best brands. But they are a fortune
I am trying to buy everything that is sustainable and only from known origins. These jeans seem awesome…Yes to waste-free earth….