Netherlands-based upcycling company DenimX has partnered with Rd4 textile sorting center, woven reinforcement material manufacturer Eurocarbon and shoe and lace manufacturer Emma to make laces from recycled jeans.
In northwestern Europe, discarded jeans are deconstructed and then combined with recycled polyester fibers to make a strong and durable yarn. And there are already 150 pairs of laces made from recycled jeans.
Emma's line of safety footwear includes laces for people working in a variety of industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, food, and more. Emma Safety Footwear's protective sneakers will feature the first retrofitted laces and are available online at DenimX in both gray and blue.
Marc Meijers, the company's director, and the owner say the shoelace concept was invented after five years of extensive research and development of clever upcycling techniques. denimX was founded to move the world toward a circular future, and the companies behind the redesigned shoelaces all share a similar goal. All of the companies that contributed to the development of this shoelace are involved in the circular economy, preventing vital material waste from ending up in landfills or incinerators.
Meijers also adds that lacing shoes are associated with building long-lasting relationships. The partnership with the five partners is a good example of how they must act in the future to make the transition to a circular economy.
Starting with the Dutch Denim Deal in 2020, the Netherlands has been a regional focus for circular economy efforts in recent years. The deal entails a multi-stakeholder effort to promote the use of recycled fibers in the fashion industry. Under the deal, by 2023, participating companies must create a total of 3 million pairs of jeans that use at least 20 percent post-consumer recycled cotton. Each company must use at least 5 percent post-consumer recycled cotton in its line of jeans. Scotch & Soda, Mud Jeans, and Kuyichi are among the participating Dutch denim brands.
