Over 70 million pairs of jeans are sold in the UK every year, but only one pair was grown, dyed, and spun from home. Justine Aldersey-Williams took on the challenge of making her own pair of jeans from scratch after learning about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment. It takes around 2,650 gallons of water to produce one pair of jeans, and Aldersey-Williams was committed to lessening her personal environmental impact by growing her own flax and indigo for fabric. The textile artist spent months learning how to spin and weave before taking about nine weeks to complete her denim. The experience of growing, designing, and sewing a pair of jeans taught Aldersey-Williams to respect the manual labor and patience that goes into each item of clothing. Her mission now is to encourage others to appreciate the clothing they have and to shop sustainably whenever possible.
Image via Positive News
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