Indigo
INDIGO
An exhibition in partnership with FRIEZE London.
From DL1961, an exploration of the innovative fibers and sustainable technologies that are set to disrupt the denim industry.
26 - 29 May, 2022 Presented at No. 9 Cork Street, FRIEZE
From DL1961, an exploration of the innovative fibers and sustainable technologies that are set to disrupt the denim industry.
An exhibition in partnership with FRIEZE London.
26 - 29 May, 2022
Presented at No. 9 Cork Street, FRIEZE
THE CIRCULAR DENIM COMPANY
High performance denim made from previously loved knits, undies, jeans and everything in between. Manufactured in one vertically integrated facility using recycled water, solar power and resource efficient technologies.
Designed in New York City and produced at our family-owned facilities in Pakistan, DL1961 is the first fully vertically-integrated premium denim company.
By investing in sustainable innovation for the past three decades, we’re on a mission to raise the bar, not only for ourselves, but for the denim industry at large.
What happened to that old denim jacket you grew out of? Sadly, it probably ended up in a landfill. While 95% of old clothes could be recycled, only 15% are.
To solve that problem, we’ve partnered with Recover™, a leading materials science company that transforms waste into sustainable recycled fibers, closing the loop on fashion.
We buy truckloads of post-consumer waste from all over the world, and turn them into new recycled cotton fibers. Recover™ recycled cotton fiber is markedly better for the environment than conventional cotton, and even organic cotton.
The magic happens when we weave Recover™ recycled cotton fiber together with bio-based TENCEL™ and other regenerative fibers to create brand new yarns. Each meets our high feel and fit standards, with a lower impact on the planet than traditional yarns.
Known for natural comfort, softness and durability TENCEL™ fibers originate from the renewable raw material wood, making it completely biodegradable and compostable.
We finish our denim with waterless laser and Ozone Technologies to give that authentic look without the environmental impact. We invest in this innovative technology to create cutting edge effects without the harmful chemicals and wasted water used in traditional washing techniques.
We’ve partnered with artists of different mediums to showcase the inherent beauty and versatility of denim.
Led by Head of Design, Emily Schnee, the team spans continents with teams in New York City and Karachi, Pakistan.
This upcycled denim piece is crafted from bespoke patchwork pieces originating from discarded jeans collected from landfills all over the world.
Denim and Ready-to-Wear
Designer Ksenia Schnaider represents one half of the Ukranian brand founded by the family duo Ksenia and Anton Schanider. Sustainability is at the core of the brand, referring to it as its “DNA”. Their collections cover men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, featuring reworked, upcycled, and patchwork denim.
This piece is made from upcycled denim shredded to resemble fur. The “denim fur” was first released in their Spring 2018 collection and has become a signature.
Fine Art Painter
Marko Ristic is a painter based between Michigan and New York City. His works predominantly consist of large scale, oil based figurative paintings.
The jeans and jacket were custom made for the artist in collaboration with DL1961 in their New York City showroom. This piece was then painted in the artist’s barn studio in Michigan, using a color palette to reflect the beauty of the collective materials that go into making denim.
Costume Designer
Timothy Gibbons is a London-based costume designer who has worked across the international realms of film, TV, theatre and fashion. Through his platform, he strives to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ issues worldwide.
The costume is inspired by the artist’s Celtic heritage and interest in Irish folkloric characters, specifically The Púca, a horse-headed shapeshifter. The design incorporates late Victorian womenswear techniques, combined with elements of traditional denim construction.
We’ve partnered with artists of different mediums to showcase the inherent beauty and versatility of denim.
DL1961 Design
Led by Head of Design, Emily Schnee, the team spans continents with teams in New York City and Karachi, Pakistan.
This upcycled denim piece is crafted from bespoke patchwork pieces originating from discarded jeans collected from landfills all over the world.
Ksenia Schnaider
Denim and Ready-to-Wear
Designer Ksenia Schnaider represents one half of the Ukranian brand founded by the family duo Ksenia and Anton Schanider. Sustainability is at the core of the brand, referring to it as its “DNA”. Their collections cover men’s and women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, featuring reworked, upcycled, and patchwork denim.
This piece is made from upcycled denim shredded to resemble fur. The “denim fur” was first released in their Spring 2018 collection and has become a signature.
Marko Ristic
Fine Art Painter
Marko Ristic is a painter based between Michigan and New York City. His works predominantly consist of large scale, oil based figurative paintings.
The jeans and jacket were custom made for the artist in collaboration with DL1961 in their New York City showroom. This piece was then painted in the artist’s barn studio in Michigan, using a color palette to reflect the beauty of the collective materials that go into making denim.
Timothy Gibbons
Costume Designer
Timothy Gibbons is a London-based costume designer who has worked across the international realms of film, TV, theatre and fashion. Through his platform, he strives to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ issues worldwide.
The costume is inspired by the artist’s Celtic heritage and interest in Irish folkloric characters, specifically The Púca, a horse-headed shapeshifter. The design incorporates late Victorian womenswear techniques, combined with elements of traditional denim construction.
In an effort to showcase craftsmanship, fashion, and transparency, we partnered with Ella Richards to design her dream jean using all our ultra-sustainable processes.
The jean features a QR code, linking to its Digitag, short for digital tag, where the viewer can see all the energy, water, and fiber content that went into its production.
| Liters of Water | 18.9 |
|---|---|
| Recycled Recover™ Fibers | 20% |
| Amount of Energy Used | 0.63 kWh |
| Time in Washing | 50 minutes |
| Time in Tumble Dryer | 50 minutes at 50°C |
| Time in Hydro Extraction | 6 minutes |
| Time in Ozone Treatmen | 1 minute |
We’ve made an app.
The first of its kind in the denim industry, this digital tag is accessed via QR code on the inside waist of our jeans. This allows the customer to see their jean’s journey from fiber to finished garment, giving full transparency into exactly how much water, energy, and recycled materials were used along the way.
The data is achieved through Jeanologia’s Environmental Impact Measurement Software that monitors the environmental impact of garment finishing processes in an efficient and economically viable way.
Who Made It Possible 💌
