Levi’s WellThread collection has been around since 2013. It was developed in response to the trend towards disposable fashion and focuses on sustainability through durable materials. The company has also been keeping an eye on the environment and the well-being of the workers for years through the initiative.
“How a garment is made is as important as the garment itself. Our company is run on the same principles as when it was founded 160 years ago. We believe we can use our beloved brands to create positive, lasting change and profitable outcomes,” commented Michael Kobori, vice president of social and environmental sustainability at Levi Strauss & Co., of the first WellThread collection.
Over the years, the collection has evolved into an expression of progress – fabrics made from hemp, new natural dyes, the increased use of organic cotton and the recyclability of each garment have been added.
“We strive for more sustainable methods of making high-quality, beautiful clothing that is both emotionally and physically sustainable. Through WellThread, Levi’s has demonstrated its firm commitment to supporting research into new processes and resources that can be scaled up and shared with the world. Collaboration is a key element in everything we do and we thank the farmers, designers and materials scientists who have contributed to these breakthroughs that are helping to protect our planet,” said Paul Dillinger, Head of Global Product Innovation at Levi Strauss & Co.
Meanwhile, every step of the production process – from the fiber to the dyeing to the finishing of the garments – saves water and resources. All fabrics and garments are also made in factories that recycle their water. Plus, the washing formulas are designed to use fewer chemicals, energy and water.
Levi’s latest WellThread capsule collection uses BioBlack TX, a plant-based pigment made from wood waste from Nature Coatings, for the prints. The black pigment comes from FSC-certified sources and replaces the petroleum-derived carbon black, which is made from the soot from burning fossil fuels.
BioBlack TX is also manufactured in a closed production system and is 100 percent plant-based. The pigment is derived from recycled wood waste that would otherwise be incinerated or landfilled. Plant-based indigo and organic and transitional cotton are also key ingredients this season.
In 2020, Levi’s launched the WellThread ‘Transitional Cotton’ program in 2020 and has since continued to work with Indian smallholder growers. They want to convert their fields to a production system that supports soil, ecosystem and human health through ecological processes, biodiversity and crop cycles adapted to local conditions. Levi’s supports them by making a commitment to purchase their transitional cotton, reducing their financial risk during the transition to organic farming.
The new Levi’s WellThread Spring/Summer 2023 collection for women includes the loose and relaxed fitting ‘Baggy Dad’ jeans, the ‘Type II Trucker’, a boxy model with denim overlay closures, and the ’80s Mom Shorts’ as well a slim fit denim shirt with denim overlay closures. For men, there’s the 551Z and 502 in denim, the Loose Chino Crop in printed denim, and the ‘Vintage Trucker’ in plant-dyed organic cotton. All models are available now and cost between 63 and 130 euros.