Plant-based low-carbon denim is taking centre stage at Climate Week NYC as fashion companies and textile manufacturers explore ways to reduce the environmental impact of denim production, from fibre cultivation to garment finishing.
A new denim collaboration involving Avalo, The LYCRA Company, Pakistan-based denim manufacturer Neela by Sapphire Fibres and Italian textile chemistry company Soko is showcasing a production model that combines lower-impact fibres with resource-efficient processing technologies. Read Here
The collection, called Naturalls, features Avalo’s Low-Footprint Cotton, which the companies say requires no irrigation, uses 75% less fertiliser and generates about half the emissions of conventionally grown cotton. The denim also incorporates Renewable LYCRA fibre, which contains 70% renewable content and can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 45% compared with conventional LYCRA fibre.
The project extends its focus on lower-carbon denim into fabric finishing. Neela handled spinning, weaving and garment production, while Soko applied its Hydrogel and Rare technologies during the finishing process.
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Soko’s Hydrogel technology allows multiple finishing treatments to be carried out in a single bath. The company says the process can reduce water consumption by up to 85%, energy use by 68% and processing time by 50%. Its Rare technology uses naturally derived mineral pigments and a natural binder for denim coloration.
Designer Gordon Muir developed the collection with workwear-inspired pieces including trousers, jackets and aprons, highlighting agricultural workers and the role of farming in the textile supply chain.
The collaboration reflects growing efforts to address denim’s environmental footprint across its entire value chain rather than focusing only on garment manufacturing. By combining plant-based fibres, renewable elastane and lower-resource finishing technologies, the partners are positioning the collection as an example of how multiple interventions can be integrated into denim production.
The launch at Climate Week NYC also underscores the increasing focus on measurable reductions in water, energy, fertiliser use and carbon emissions as fashion companies seek to develop more sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.