The sustainable denim brand is setting the standard for good jeans.
Jeans. They’re a staple in every modern wardrobe, but the high cost of traditional production is evident. That’s why this season, we’re taking the opportunity to make better choices, including introducing an innovative new fabric.
Enter AGOLDE, part of the Citizens of Humanity Group (COH). We partnered with them for their more sustainable production and business practices. Based in Los Angeles, most products are developed in-house, meaning better quality and more control of the environmental impacts from fabric to finish. They also cut to order, so there’s minimal excess products.
The big news this season is the debut of regenerative cotton denim. It’s a pioneering fabric that strives to improve one of agriculture’s most chemical-intensive and soil-degrading systems – growing cotton. And the results, as evidenced by the AGOLDE Harper Crop Jean, are incredible.
The brand’s parent company partnered with ten farms across the United States that are members of the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and practice regenerative agriculture. Regenerative farming is a vital tool for reversing the effects of climate change while increasing soil fertility, replenishing fresh water, and improving human health.
Come along as we visit CM Laundry, their inspiring facility in Los Angeles, and see how your new favorite jeans are being made.
The Recipes
Once the raw denim is cut and sewn into a pair of jeans at COH's Downtown LA factory, each style is given a laundry card. This card notes every step required to create the desired look. Above is the AGOLDE Cooper Cargo Jean and its laundry card.
The Details
Multiple methods are employed to give each jean its own distinctive features. A Photoshop light program, for example, burns whisker designs and holes into fabric in just three minutes. On the AGOLDE Harper Wide Straight Jean, artisans create subtle creases at the hips by hand.
The Washes
Energy-saving washing machines fit 120 garments per load. Enzyme washes, and toxin-free dyes are formulated to achieve custom colors, such as the pepper wash on the AGOLDE Kye Mid Rise Straight Crop. Stone washing is done using compostable cardboard eco-stones for the softest denim. Water is then carefully filtered to meet E-Flow safety standards.
The Finishing
After quality-control inspection, styles are returned to the factory for the final touches and shipment. We love that every pair of AGOLDE and Citizens of Humanity jeans we sell was made in the USA with equal emphasis on labor conditions and environmental impact.
Photographed by Katie Jones.