10 of The Best Sustainable Denim Brands
The best sustainable jeans you'll be wearing forever
The Green Hub
Probably the hardest working item in your wardrobe, there’s nothing like a well-worn, great-fitting pair of jeans to make you feel like a million bucks.
But our love for denim comes with a steep environmental price tag. According to The Global Fashion Agenda, conventional cotton is the third most environmentally impactful material to produce, from seed to garment.
Making denim needs cotton – a lot of it. Unless it’s organic, growing cotton often means using fertilisers and pesticides that aren’t exactly eco-friendly. Plus, it takes a lot of water to grow. While the exact numbers vary depending on the source, the average amount of water it takes to make one single pair of jeans is estimated at 7000 litres.
The good news is that many denim brands are stepping up. They’re finding smarter ways to make your favourite jeans that are less harmful to our planet. So while we might still have a long way to go, we’re starting to see some positive changes in the denim world.
Knowing all the facts, you can understand why it’s important to find those good-quality jeans designed to be loved and worn for a lifetime. So when you’re ready to invest in a new pair, here are some of our favourite sustainable denim brands.
1. Nobody Denim
One of Australia’s coolest denim brands, Nobody Denim are made in Melbourne using Australian-grown cotton. They’re also Ethical Clothing Australia certified and use FIBRETRACE™, which allows full traceability of garments. They have a myriad of styles, including shorts, skirts, and everyday basics.
2. Denimsmith
Ethical Clothing Australia certified Denimsmith specialises in classic denim, and they also do fun colours. Handmade in Melbourne and was founded by a team of veteran Australian designers and makers committed to ethical production. With options for everybody, this brand makes affordable, timeless, and sustainable pieces you’ll treasure forever.
3. RE/DONE
More than just another denim brand, RE/DONE are an upcycled movement. Reconstructing old pairs of Levi’s, each pair is distinctly one of a kind. These are your go-to for relaxed fits and vintage styles with modern tweaks.
4. Outland
Australia’s first B-Corporation Certified denim brand, Outland has been around for almost a decade, born from a need to help provide vulnerable women with employment and training opportunities. They use organic cotton and natural indigo dye in their production.
5. Bassike
Australian-made Bassike prides itself on creating responsible collections that are created in collaboration with local artisans and suppliers around Australia. Their collections are seasonless, encouraging people to invest in pieces that they will hold onto forever.
6. Nudie Jeans Co
Every pair of Nudie Jeans comes with the promise of free repairs, no matter where you bought them from. Made from 100% organic cotton, and are designed to last you forever. Nudie Jeans make sure to work with suppliers and makers who ensure their jeans are sustainable for you and the planet. They also offer a trade-in program with preloved pieces available for sale on their site.
Organic Basics
Think Danish design, simplistic and clean-cut with quality handpicked fabrics and sustainable practices. Organics Basics specialise in basics, but they also offer a small range of denim. They also have fully certified factory partners to ensure they are eco-friendly and fairly staffed, they’re a 1% For The Planet member and B-Corp certified.
Mott & Bow
Mott & Bow is a go-to for denim lovers seeking great quality pieces at an affordable price. They’re a family-owned factory with in-house production, so you know exactly who is making your clothes. They offer a wide range of fits, sizes, and styles, for everyone. Making them your one-stop shop for denim that feels as good as it looks.
MUD Jeans
MUD Jeans recycle old jeans cut up into pieces and blended with Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified cotton to create new denim yarn. This means less water and chemical usage. The new recycled jeans are then sold as unique vintage pairs and named after the former wearer. MUD has also introduced a Lease or Buy option where you can rent your pair of jeans on a subscription.
Neuw Denim
Jeans for those who want denim that will last tonight, tomorrow, & the best times of their life, Neuw Denim has a fit for everyone. Their ZERO collection uses processes designed to cut down on water wastage and chemical pollution. They use Australian-grown cotton, known for being water efficient, and work with small factories that have a traceable and transparent supply chain.
