The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite fashion With sustainability advances on the rise, Cristina Lloyd discovers how Kings of Indigo is implementing this with the introduction of new sustainable material Re-Gen in their SS20 collection. INDIGO KINGS OF S ustainability in a social and environmental ethos has always been the objective Tony Tonnaer brought to his brand when he founded Kings of Indigo nine years ago. He believed that neither sustainability nor quality should be compromised to make beautiful garments. With the advent of being ‘sustainable’ having evolved since the brand’s inception in 2011, the subject has become more intricate with the future promising further changes. “I have been creating sustainable denim for seventeen years, but really only the last five has made me believe that change in the whole industry is truly possible,” Tonnaer said. “These last years have seen the greatest developments in innovation regarding all phases of the production process to reduce environmental impact. Low impact dye, recycling water, increasing recycled content in fabrics, washing with less water, chemicals, and ener- gy - valuable and necessary steps have been made.” Kings of Indigo’s mission is to lead the industry to clean up and change which has helped shape and change the path of fashion. The brand positions itself as a pioneer in the ever-changing sustainable fashion world by always being two steps ahead of the rest, innovating with materials and sustainable production methods, and constantly exploring how to reduce the impact on the planet and people. To achieve this, they use their Five Pillars of Sustainability as cornerstones. The Five Pillars of Sustainability consists of planet-friendly materials, water use, social, transport, and waste-conscious. The brand use materials that have as little impact on the planet with their collections rich with natural fibres such as organic cotton, linen, and hemp. They are always exploring new innovations to shift their focus to recycled and man-made fibres such as recycled polyester, recycled wood, and TENCEL so that they can reduce reliance on the earth’s natural resources. You may not realise it but the clothing and denim industry uses a huge amount of water to manufacture goods. More so in denim, where processes such as dyeing and colour fabrics, washing denim, and printing designs rely on water to complete the cycle. Premium Den