Fade-Resistant Black Denim Just Got More Sustainable
Providing further proof that performance and sustainability can coexist, Lenzing has partnered with a leader in denim and a leader in recycled fibers to bring a product to market that takes denim to a whole new level.
Cone Denim, a mill that has been innovating in the denim space for 125 years, is set to launch Future BLACK+, the industry’s first certified fade-resistant black denim made using Lenzing Modal® Black fibers and REPREVE® Black recycled fibers.
As many as 17 recycled plastic bottles go into making Future BLACK+ jeans—which also happen to boast superior softness, color retention and stretch—all while leaving a smaller footprint on the environment.
“Lenzing has always been committed to sustainability and making our manufacturing process as eco-friendly as possible,” said Tricia Carey, director of global business development of denim, Lenzing Fibers. “By partnering with Cone Denim and Unifi, we were able to work with like-minded companies to create a world-class product that saves resources throughout the manufacturing process.”
To prevent denim from fading, Future BLACK+ with Lenzing Modal® BLACK fibers uses an innovating dope dyeing technique that adds pigment during production so that the entire body of the fiber gets colored instead of just the surface, and there’s no need for a dye bath down the line. In testing, Future BLACK+ denim showed no signs of color loss after more than 20 washes.
Adding a recycled element to further expand the product’s sustainability, REPREVE yarns mean plastic bottles that would have landed in landfills make their way instead into a pair of jeans. What’s more, the Lenzing Modal® BLACK fibers has a 50 percent to 60 percent less harmful impact on the environment than conventionally dyed fabric does because the manufacturing process uses less chemicals, fewer energy inputs and uses 64 percent less water during the dying process.
“By combining Lenzing Modal® fiber with REPREVE, we are able to satisfy some of the biggest consumer demands for the marketplace,” said Jay Hertwig, Unifi’s vice president of global brand sales and premium value-added sales. “Unifi is proud to work with both The Lenzing Group and Cone Denim to create a high-quality product that helps decrease our industry’s environmental footprint.”
The collaboration between this trio of global leaders in sustainability will mean denim that’s better performing and more sustainable than it’s been in the past.
“This exclusive collaboration elevates our commitment as a sustainability leader and denim innovator,” said Kara Nicholas, vice president of product design and marketing for Cone Denim. “Color retention in black denim is an increasingly important trend for consumers and a perfect fit with our TruTone™ fabric story focused around black and indigo-like navy fabrics that offer supreme color retention, plus all of the added benefits of the environmental story.”
Future BLACK+ will make its debut as part of Cone Denim’s TruTone™ collection at Kingpins Amsterdam Oct. 25-26 and will show again at Kingpins New York Nov. 29-30.