Country Road’s New Denim Range has an Environmental Twist
The Future of Denim: Country Road partners with an industry-leading manufacturer that’s revolutionising the way denim is made
Country Road is proud to launch a men’s denim jean range in partnership with Saitex, an industry-leading manufacturer that’s revolutionising the way denim is made.
Located in Vietnam, Saitex is a vertically integrated denim manufacturer focused on supporting environmental and social change. The factory is driving innovation at key stages of denim production to address energy use, water consumption and waste.
Country Road’s head of design for menswear, Chris Vogelpoel, counts the collection with Saitex a pioneering success for the menswear category.
“As part of our design strategy, we were determined to find and work with one of the most innovative denim mills in the world that’s committed to driving positive environmental and social change. The result of this collaborative process means that we’re bringing a denim offering that sets Country Road apart, not just in terms of fabric and fit, but also with the incredible story linked to Saitex.”
Over two years in the making, the range has been designed and produced with meticulous attention to detail.
From spinning the raw cotton fibre to weaving the denim and constructing the garment, every step of production is completed in-house at Saitex.
Energy solutions
In a commitment to conserving energy, Saitex has 15,000 solar panels on the roof of its mill that help to power the facility. In addition, the sewing factory is Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, an internationally recognised symbol of sustainability excellence and green building leadership. Buildings that are LEED-certified are designed to reduce carbon emissions, energy, water and waste.
The smart system behind the dyeing process
To achieve the rich indigo tones of the denim, Saitex draws on the innovative dyeing technology of Smart- IndigoTM, and was one of the first denim manufacturers to invest in a Smart-IndigoTM machine. According to Smart-IndigoTM, its system reduces carbon dioxide emissions, as well as energy and harmful chemical use.
From wastewater to a valuable resource
At Saitex, denim is washed using a closed-loop system that recycles approximately 98% of water through an on-site treatment plant. By recycling water in-house, Saitex is able to reduce the need for fresh water in the washing process.
Working to reduce chemical use
Saitex was the first denim laundry in the world to become a bluesignR system partner. The globally recognised bluesignR system assesses facilities to reduce harmful substances and carbon dioxide emissions in the textile industry, while improving water and energy consumption.
Taking drying back to basics
Rather than solely relying on traditional tumble drying, Saitex air dries its jeans for up to 80% of the drying process. Jeans are hung from the ceiling of the wash facility to conserve energy while drying, a process which
can take up to three hours for each pair.
Creating pathways into the fashion industry
REKUT is a program run by Saitex that offers training and employment for marginalised groups and people
with disability. The training program helps to create pathways into the fashion industry with participants given
the opportunity to progress into permanent positions on Saitex’s sewing lines.
Turning textile waste into beautiful homewares
Recognising the value of fabric waste, Saitex has repurposed denim off-cuts and seconds to create a new material. Stelapop© is a wood alternative that is made using 65% recycled denim sourced from Saitex. In partnership with Stelapop, Country Road has worked to create serving pieces from this innovative material that embraces future possibilities while showcasing its origins.
The Country Road men’s denim jean range will launch in Standard and Slim fits, arriving in three authentic washes – Dark Indigo, Mid Blue and Rich Raw. It will be available in store and online from March 27.