Ask Candice Swanepoel to share what she looks for in an everyday jean, and she’s as concerned with the supply chain as the cut and sew. “Isn’t it so much more fulfilling to know where your clothing comes from?” she asks BAZAAR.com.
The denim brand behind Swanepoel’s latest shoot would agree—so the two linked up to showcase some of fashion’s most eco-minded jeans to date. Swanepoel is now the face of DL1961’s five-piece capsule with materials science company Recover, BAZAAR.com can exclusively share.
The Recover line reimagines DL1961’s best-selling styles—from classic straight-legs to on-trend wide-legs—in proprietary yarn woven from a mix of previously used clothing and high performance fibers like Tencel. Each pair is cut and sewn in a state-of-the-art facility that leverages solar power and recycled water, among other resource-efficient tech. According to DL1961, it’s some of the most responsible denim on the market. The brand says its fabrics have a lower environmental impact than both conventional and organic cottons.
For Swanepoel, modeling the collection was about more than endorsing the eco-conscious jeans she wears—it was about the people who made them. “When I met Sarah Ahmed and her family we just connected,” Swanepoel says of DL1961’s creative director. “I am a female business owner, as are they, and I love their story as much as I love what they are creating.”
Simply having responsible denim to model in the first place is a mark of progress, Swanepoel adds. “When I started investigating sustainable options for my own brand, Tropic of C, it wasn’t heard of,” she recalls, “but I’m proud to say that we were one of the first to make that our mission. I’m so happy that technology and innovation have made it possible for many more like minded brands.”
Of course, there’s still room for major improvement across the fashion industry where sustainability is concerned. By supporting brands with thoughtful production practices, Swanepoel says, we can make mindful shopping the norm—as well as better-quality items, period.
DL1961's Recover jeans have a fit and feel that will make you want to wear them on repeat. Swanepoel can attest: She tells us every pair she wore in the campaign came home with her. “I live in jeans and t-shirts so fit is very important, and they have it down to a t,” she says.
To try them yourself, shop DL1961’s capsule with Recover below or at dl1961.com.
Shop DL1961's Recover Denim
Halie LeSavage is the fashion commerce editor at Harper's BAZAAR. Her style reporting covers everything from reviewing the best designer products to profiling emerging brands and designers. Previously, she was the founding retail writer at Morning Brew and a fashion associate at Glamour.
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