Outland Denim plans to open its Cambodian manufacturing facilities to other brands and establish an in-house standard for sustainability.

The Australia-based brand, known for its sustainably washed organic cotton jeans and efforts to eradicate modern slavery, is ramping up its voice in an effort to lead the denim industry to reduce its collective environmental impact. Part of this positive change is the development of the Maeka Standard, a certification that represents Outland’s high expectation of sustainability as a manufacturer and as a brand.

The standard is a combination of Outland’s policies that center on zero exploitation and jeans that are made without slavery, poor labor standards or environmentally harmful materials and techniques; garments made with the intention to create positive change; and a social mission to “correct injustices with the desire to positively impact” all stakeholders.

Outland will extend the standard to other brands it manufactures for in an effort to streamline sustainable production, alleviate doubling up on intellectual capital and infrastructure and reducing the costs associated with responsible production. The first products in development with the Maeka Standard are a denim jacket and jeans from the Outland Denim x Karen Walker collection.