Turkish denim mill Calik Denim has launched a new range of denim fabrics in its Fall/Winter 22-23 collection that has the potential to advance the industry’s sustainable transformation. Tolga Ozkurt, Deputy General Manager, informs, a 100 per cent recycled concept, RE/J, consists entirely of post- and pre-consumer waste. The range provides authentic vintage denim looks with varying elasticity by using fibers such as EcoMade Lycra and Repreve PES, both derived from recycled plastic bottles. The concept uses an open-end spinning process and utilizes Calik’s Dyepro technology, which uses no water and produces zero chemical waste during the dyeing process.

The company has also developed the E-Denim technology for incorporating high levels of recycled content into denim without sacrificing quality. The technology allows the mill to increase its total recycled content rate to 50 percent in stretch fabrics and 80 percent to 100 percent in rigid product groups. Calik has stated that the industry average currently hovers around 20 percent.

In addition, Calik Denim has signed the Denim Deal, an initiative launched at the end of 2020 to rally the industry toward circularity. The deal aims to set a new standard of using at least 5 percent recycled fibers in all denim products, and producing at least three million pairs of jeans with a minimum of 20 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.