Misato NotoDenim is a fashion staple that many people keep in their closets; however, it’s also one of the most resource-intensive garments. Japanese fashion retailer UNIQLO launched the sustainable denim project BlueCycle Jeans to overcome this issue.
BlueCycle reduced up to 99% of water use in the finishing process by replacing the use of natural pumice stones with eco stones and introducing ozone-mist washing machines that use nanobubbles. The natural pumice stone is usually an integral part of denim processing to achieve a stone-washed look. However, it requires a large amount of water to wash away powdery residue. UNIQLO reports that they can now produce high-quality jeans with just a teacup worth of water.
BlueCycle also replaced harmful sandpapering with laser-distressing technology, which achieves a faded look without posing health risks to workers. The use of the laser also helps reduce heavy manual labor, improving the overall work environment.
