Blogger’s View: Thomas Stege Bojer Says Denim Isn’t Sustainable—Usually
Once you learn about his background in marketing and obsession for denim, it isn’t a surprise at all that Thomas Stege Bojer has more than 20,000 followers on his Instagram, @denimhunters. In 2016, he became a co-author too, putting out ‘Blue Blooded’ with journalist Josh Sims.
Readers can turn to Thomas’ Denim Hunters blog for Q&As which calls on some of the current denim experts in the industry, but in the meantime, Carved in Blue got the scoop on his thoughts on denim right now.
Carved in Blue: How do you define sustainability?
Thomas: In the simplest meaning of the term, ‘sustainability’ in relation to production means something that doesn’t cause any damage. But I think we’re at a point where truly sustainable companies have to go beyond not causing harm to our environment; they have to improve it. That means recycling waste, not using harmful chemicals (or even better not using chemicals at all), and using responsibly-produced raw materials.
Carved in Blue: Is denim sustainable? What do you consider when purchasing denim?
Thomas: Well, it isn’t, really. At least not the traditional type of denim (made from cotton, dyed with indigo the classic way) that I prefer. So, I try not to buy too much of it, and choose garments I know will last a long time. That’s sort of a way to consume sustainably, although the best way would be to buy only secondhand.
Carved in Blue: Where do you get information about sustainability?
Thomas: I try to get my information directly from the sources, meaning the makers and producers, such as yourselves. I’ve found this to be the least “watered-down” way to learn about the practices behind how fabrics and garments are made.
Carved in Blue: Which denim or non-denim brands do you think are doing a good job at balancing sustainability and communication?
Thomas: I think Everlane and Reformation are doing great jobs in the ways they communicate transparently. In the world of denim, Nudie has been doing good things for years. G-Star’s collaboration with Saitex is also really interesting and will be trendsetting for the future, I think. And working with Candiani on their Open Mill Day event last year made me appreciate even more how they’re continuously working towards transparency and making (authentic) denim the most environmentally-friendly ways possible.
note: check out Thomas’ podcast Denim and Boots