Don indigo-dipped threads by Industry of All Nations
One of the seven colours of the rainbow, sitting between blue and violet, indigo is a deep seductive shade that draws its name from the natural world – the plant indigofera tinctoria, which is used to create indigo dye.
India is believed to be the oldest creator of indigo dyes, and it is here that earth-conscious brand Industry of All Nations bases its fairtrade indigo-dyeing operations. Rethinking methods of garment production, the brand takes manufacturing back to the regions where products and materials originate – alpaca sweaters from Bolivia, Kenyatas shoes from Kenya and Cabrales from Mexico City – and brings these local staple businesses to an international market.
For Industry of All Nations’ Clean Jeans project, the brand focuses on making jeans without contaminating the soil and waterways by eliminating the use of petrochemicals. Local men perform an ancient process of extracting indigo dye from the indigofera plant, which is then used to naturally dye the cotton. The 100% organic denim is then hand-loomed by a team in India, keeping this age-old technique alive. Embrace the cool shades of the season and select a pair of the brand’s Clean Jeans and couple your eco-slacks with an indigo-dipped tee and sweatshirt. You can read up on this eco-warrior’s other sustainable fashion projects here.