Progress is woven into everything we do at Levi Strauss & Co. That means from the cotton fields to our factories to the communities where we operate, we’re doing what we can to conserve our planet’s precious resources, while also improving the lives of the people who make our products. The newly launched Fall 2015 Levi’s® Wellthread™ Collection is a reflection of this commitment.
Produced by applying a holistic, sustainable design approach, the Levi’s® Wellthread™ Collection pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. The result? Products made using far less water, crafted by empowered workers, and designed with the end in mind, using 100 percent cotton product for easier recyclability. It’s a collection we’re proud to share with the world.
“We’re delivering goods that are the same as always, like never before,” said Paul Dillinger, our head of global product innovation, at Sustainable Brands 2015 in Barcelona. “The Wellthread design methodology seeks to create environmental or social value creation at every point in the design process — allowing the design team to make the right choice whenever a choice is made.”
The collection includes special editions of the Levi’s® 511™ Slim Fit Jean and Trucker Jacket — both with varied finishes — and the LS Western and Pocket Tee — in stormy grey and blues, washed-out purple and taupes. All of the pieces in the collection take the following Levi’s® Wellthread™ product principles into consideration:
Water<Less™ Fabric – Dyeing Denim Better
The Levi’s® Wellthread™ Collection is the first-ever to feature Levi’s® Water<Less™ fabric, which saves more than 65 percent less water in the dye process than conventional dyeing. T-shirts use cold-water pigment dyes, also saving water in the garment dyeing process. And Water<Less™ finishes give the collection’s denim pieces the wear patterns and finishes consumers love, while using up to 50 percent less water than traditional finishing.
Social Value and Community Development
From Haiti to Sri Lanka, Levi’s® Wellthread™ garments were made at facilities that invest in the well-being of the people who craft our products. Our Worker Well-being initiative helps promote topics such as financial literacy, women’s health and family wellness.
Material Integrity
Made of 100 percent cotton, the collection’s fabric, thread, pocketing, and labels are all designed for recyclability. Mixed-fiber garments can be difficult — or impossible — to recycle. Levi’s® Wellthread™ clothing was designed with the end in mind to make it easier to recover valuable cotton to create new garments in the future.
Designed & Built To Last
Durability is paramount to sustainability — the longer a product is worn without need for replacement, the better for the planet. Levi’s® Wellthread™ garments feature some slight modifications that further improve durability of our classic pieces. Adjustments to the pocket flap on the Western shirt, for example, reduce strain and breakage where the pocket is joined to the shirt.
Responsible Use
Friendly care instructions guide our Levi’s® Wellthread™ product wearers in responsible home-laundry habits, which are aided by design modifications to help create an enduring look. For example, the overlapping panel at the shoulder of our t-shirts allows a consumer to hang dry without risk of the garment stretching out. And as with all of our jeans, our Care Tag for the Planet provides the simple care instructions: wash less, wash cold, and line dry to keep the look and fit you love.
Shop the Levi’s® Wellthread™ Collection on Levi.com.
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