How a Natural Dyer Localized Denim—from Linen Growing to Garment Production

Producing denim today is often a multinational process, with raw material cultivation and manufacturing handled by different entities. From start to finish, there are numerous chemicals involved to give blue jeans their indigo color and finish them.

“There are currently 70 million synthetically dyed jeans sold every year in the U.K.,” said Justine Aldersey-Williams, the founder of the Northern England affiliate of the nonprofit Fibreshed. “I don’t think enough people are aware that this toxic blue is derived from fossil fuels.”

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Aldersey-Williams recently undertook a project to localize denim production, creating linen jeans using natural indigo in the U.K.

Read more on Carved in Blue.

This article is one of a series on Rivet from Lenzing’s Carved in Blue denim blog. From conversations with the experts behind the mills that make some of the world’s most-wanted denim to the global brands bringing novel denim made with TENCEL? Lyocell and Modal to the market, Carved in Blue shares the stories of those whose roots run deep with denim. Visit www.carvedinblue.tencel.com.

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