We’re just starting out on our journey here at Cruinn, creating new clothes and homeware from unwanted textiles on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland, where we’re based.
Our lead designer Sandra’s first project has been working with some unloved pairs of denim jeans.
Water consumption in the making of jeans is high. Around 2 billion pairs of jeans are produced every year and it takes 7000 litres of water to produce just one typical pair, that’s the amount an average person drinks over the course of 6 years! The dying process then uses around 1.7 million tonnes of various chemicals that leave a permanent impact on our environment.
The best way to cut down on the environmental impact our clothes have is to wear them more before discarding them. Then instead of clothes ending up in landfill or being incinerated, using already produced textiles to make new items is a great way of cutting this down even further.
Sandra has created this stunning, completely unique jacket using unwanted jeans and a men’s shirt.
Each pair of jeans was carefully unpicked ensuring lovely details were retained, like the white & red selvedge, pockets with areas that have been hidden and are unfaded, and all the subtle dappled shades in the denim colours from washing and wearing.
The gathering to the top of the sleeves adds another visually pleasing detail, and the pale blue and white stripe of the shirt used as lining complements the denim perfectly, it's almost too good to be hidden!
With careful planning, pinning and a good eye, she’s turned some very plain jeans and a shirt into a gorgeous jacket which is easily wearable dressed up or down. Lots of pockets in various sizes, including an inside one perfect for a mobile phone, increases it’s functionality.
Our team of 5 took the newly created jacket out for a wee photoshoot in the Lews Castle Grounds a couple of weeks back, along with a pair of jeans with some Sashiko mending (we’ll be talking more about this Japanese form of visible mending soon) and were featured in an article in The Press and Journal, which you can read here.
It’s an exciting time for us, as we’re working towards launching a range of Cruinn re-worked items in July. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to join in with our journey.