Upcycled Cotton
We are proud to be stockists for The New Denim Project - a range of fabrics produced within a completely circular model, created by third generation family-owned textile mill in Guatemala. A circular system is restorative and regenerative by design, aiming to keep materials and components at their highest form of use and value at all times. These incredible denim, twill and chambray fabrics are biodegradable and are entirely created from upcycled post-industrial textile waste.
Please note that as of 2024, The New Denim Project are no longer producing this range of Upcycled Cottons. This means that once our stock has sold out in stores and online, we are unable to purchase more.
The Upcycling Process + Origins
The New Denim Project create this range of woven fabrics by collecting and sorting post-industrial cotton waste from local garment factories and grounding these scraps back into fibre. These fibres are then spun into new yarns again, to weave and upcycle into the collection of upcycled cotton fabrics you'll see in our stores. Isn't that incredible?!
The cottonseed and lint from their upcycling process is then passed on to coffee-growers, Finca San Jeronimo Miramar, to use as compost to cultivate specialty coffee in the highlands of Guatemala. Upcycling this waste back into local production systems, maintains it as a reusable and valuable resource, serving as food for new organisms. Yum!
The upcycling process minimises water and energy consumption and uses no dyes, chemicals or synthetic fibres. The lack of dyeing gives these fabrics a truely special finish which we love. You'll see a little speckle of history visible in the texture and colours of these fabric, particularly the denims!
What is Circularity?
A circular textiles system is one that is both restorative and regenerative by design, aiming to keep materials and components at their highest form of use and value at all times. In a circular system, natural fibres are enhanced and their yields optimised, and existing materials to be given more value, not less. Think of it as a continuous positive design and development circle! Circular systems are essential to minimising the environmental impact and decrease the amount of waste that goes into landfills.
Learn more about how The New Denim Project approach circularity here.
Our Range + Care Guidelines
Available in our retail stores and online are five beautiful heavyweight denims in an array of modern shades, four ultra-classic vertically striped chambrays, a plain chambray and two lightweight cotton twills. These easy-care, machine washable fabrics are a dream choice for any denim lover and are ideal for everyday wear.
When laundering these Upcycled Cotton fabrics, use a gentle detergent and cold water cycle, washing colour separately and taking to dry them in the shade. Because these fabrics are not dyed again during in the upcycling process, natural fading is likely to occur over time and with sun/light exposure. The nature of this upcycling process means that textural irregularities and slubs may also be found throughout this fabric. These characteristics are a unique result of this special upcycling process and are not considered to be defects. To help your garments retain their colour, it also helps to wash them inside out! These fabrics are also drycleanable, if you wish to do so, and a warm/hot iron can be used on a cotton setting for pressing.
