The fashion industry is responsible for over 8% of all greenhouse gas emissions. With over 150 billion garments made each year, around 87% end up in a landfill with only about 1% being recycled. 

The trendy blue jean transcends periods, social strata, gender and style preferences. In terms of both material and aesthetics, denim is dependable but is sadly one of the main contributors to water, chemical and energy pollution. Approximately 2,900 liters of water are consumed during the production of a single pair of jeans. When scaled to the number of jeans produced globally, the environmental impact ranges from wastewater discharges to harmful gas emissions. The indigo dye used in denim production makes the water in the textile effluents toxic and harmful for consumption, creating an imbalance in the aquatic ecosystems. 

There is often confusion around the definitions and differences between upcycled and recycled garments. As opposed to recycling, which relies on the use of chemicals or mechanical procedures to break down fibers to be made into new fabrics, upcycling is about design and making sure that toxic chemicals aren’t finding their way back into the ecosystem.

By being consumer-aware and making a contribution towards sustainability, the rate of upcycling has increased. At AMARLA Designs, we are doing just that, focusing on lean manufacturing with minimum waste and converting any leftover waste to upcycled products, achieving a zero-waste brand.