'Un' Is Breathing New Life Into Old Denim Through Innovative Design & Upcycling

Trends have come and gone, but one piece of attire that has continued to have unwavering popularity is denim. While previous Tumblr era-girls who lived in skinny jeans have grown into mom jeans, Gen-Z is making denim their own through boxy Blokecore pieces, or even through patchworked and embellished designs.

While good quality denim can outlast the people who bought it, they are also can end up in landfills. Recently, however, there has been a growing fashion movement that is putting the focus on upcycling in order to extend the longetivity of clothes; specifically denim attire. 

Un is a Bengaluru-based organization that proudly refers to itself as “an antidote to fast fashion through upcycling.” The label is owned by Bengaluru-based Circular Fashion Pvt. Ltd. With a clear mission in mind to rescue denim from ending up in landfills and give it new life, Un is as much a fashion label as it is a movement.

The ‘Damn-Good Denims' that are upcycled with love by Un began from the simple idea to upcycle denim and give them new life, for the sake of the planet that we call home, and to make the fashion world more responsible. The brand keeps a close watch on numbers and statistics related to the fashion industry’s impact on nature, and “obsessively curate and refashion them into unique, high-quality denim pieces that make a statement.”

The brand seeks to amplify its approach and the impact created by taking their upcycling approach where it conserves at least 3600 litres of water per garment and rescues 1.32 Metres of fabric per garment. According to the brand, “We're working on rescuing and rehoming 1,000,000 Damn-Good denims to anyone on the planet who wants them. This effort reduces the need for 1,000,000 new denims, saving approximately 3.6 billion litres of water and 1,320,000 metres of fabric.”

From denim shorts and kimonos to jeans and even accessories, the Un range of products is not limited in options. Though as a plus-sized woman, I do see the glaring lack of sizing from the brand, this is more reflective of the general love for straight-sizes from premium brands; so it is no surprise when upcycled options face limitations with size options as well. But their unisex kimono with a relaxed fit and wide sleeves or accessories are great options for those with bigger bodies who want to be part of the ‘Un’ movement. 

Across all their products, they feature their signature green pocket that reads, “This is not a green pocket; it’s a protest sign against overproduction, overconsumption, and the destruction of our planet, our only home."

Serving as a reminder that there is no Planet B, the green pocket movement is a call for more people to advocate for sustainable practices to save our home planet from ruin. Through their pieces, Un is urging people to do so, by extending the life of garments instead of succumbing to fleeting trends and purchasing low-quality virgin denim that is still resource-intensive. With their team of expert designers and tailors and with innovative thinking on their side, they are ushering in an era of impactful fashion for planet-conscious humans. 

Follow Un here.

You can explore their collections here.

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