In a textile industry where sustainability is a top priority, Madewell, ISKO, and bluesign® have come together for a strategic collaboration. Madewell has created the first ever denim style using bluesign® APPROVED ISKO fabrics, prioritizing sustainability in the production of a pair of women’s denim jeans. The Cali Demi-Boot Jeans, retailing for $138 USD launches today on Madewell.com.
The jeans are made with ISKO’s fabrics that are dyed and finished with bluesign® APPROVED chemical products and produced in a resource-conserving way with a minimum impact on people and the environment. ISKO’s Reform™ technology, one of the denim ingredient brand’s most successful patented stretch innovations, has obtained bluesign® APPROVED status, a uniquely challenging feat for a denim mill to accomplish. Among the many benefits that this fabric technology offers are freedom of movement, a slimmer, smoother, and more streamlined appearance, and an incomparable holding power allowing the jeans to keep their shape and never bag out. The bluesign® APPROVED label is awarded only to the bluesign® SYSTEM PARTNER manufacturers that meet the strict safety and environmental requirements of the bluesign® CRITERIA such as ensuring production sites are safe for workers, reducing CO2e emissions and water consumption, as well as avoiding hazardous substances in production among many others.
Daniel Rufenacht, CEO of Bluesign comments, “This collaboration, between two of the denim industry's heavyweights, coupled with our bluesign® SYSTEM for eliminating hazardous chemicals and reducing environmental impacts, demonstrates that the solutions to develop a high-quality, more sustainable, and accessible priced product is possible within the fashion industry at scale. We are thrilled to see this collaboration come to life and look forward to seeing more Madewell products using bluesign® APPROVED ISKO materials in the future.”
Attaining the right certifications becomes an extremely important matter, a differentiating and almost defining aspect that can take a business to the next level. This is certainly true for ISKO whose commitment to the preservation of our planet frames every decision it makes, now and for the long term. With the purpose to create more sustainable products without sacrificing functionality, quality and design, the global company made the decision to strive for one of the hardest sustainability credentials to achieve, by one of the most accredited independent authorities in the world: bluesign®.
“At ISKO, we believe that future-focused innovation empowers and improves our industry and enhances the value of our partnerships. This is evident in our achievements with bluesign®, in which our collaborations continuously help to lower the fashion industry’s impact on climate change. Now, together with Madewell, we have collectively delivered to the market a world’s first in sustainable denim innovation. Being a global leader in the industry, ISKO has the power to drive and accelerate change, and so we can confidently say that we will achieve our shared vision for a cleaner, safer, and more transparent supply chain.” Mr. Fatih Konukoglu – CEO, ISKO
Madewell is proud to be the first brand in the world to launch a denim product made with ISKO fabrics that are bluesign® APPROVED. And it is just a step in the brand’s journey towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals, including 100% sustainable fibers by 2025. For Madewell, the apparel brand whose corporate responsibility strategy based on the Planet and People key pillars, using the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is clearly laid out in its Do Well Report.
About Madewell
Simply put, we make great jeans. We also focus on all things you wear with denim, like timeless leather jackets, keep-forever bags, slouchy jeans and compliment worthy shoes.
The brand leads the denim industry on innovation, fit, and quality - from fabric technology to unparalleled fit experts and premium denim mill partnerships; it all comes together with the latest in trend and styling advice through in-house experts.
Together the team creates a community that fosters inclusivity and loalty through its Madewell Insider program and pioneers digital and omnichannel innovation – turning its customers into advocates.
About ISKO
ISKO is part of SANKO TEKSTIL, the textile division of the SANKO Group. As the premium denim ingredient brand behind people’s most favorite jeans, it has a strong global presence in 35 countries with 60 international locations. By virtue of its Responsible Innovation™ approach, founded on creativity, competence and citizenship, ISKO works to make the world a better place, bringing awareness to environmental as well as social aspects.
Committed to an approach of continuous improvement, ISKO relies on external stakeholder engagement, striving for third-party certifications and partnerships. This has led to many achievements, including: bluesign® System Partnership, STeP by OEKO-TEX®, Textile Exchange, SAC, ZDHC, and EU Ecolabel. The ISKO world is a full-power denim force from the ground up, it includes R&D, Creative Room, Iskoteca, Visionary Minds, Marketing and the CSR Sustainability teams – all working to create a complete network of excellence, creativity and innovation.
ISKO and RESPONSIBLE INNOVATION are all trademarks of SANKO TEKSTIL.
