H&M Announces Collaboration with American Denim Brand Lee
Fashion retailer H&M has collaborated with American denim legends Lee to launch what it is calling the next generation of more sustainable denim. According to H&M, it’s a holistic collaboration with advances at every stage of design and production, from H&M’s first-ever 100% recycled cotton jeans, to non-leather backpatches made from cork and jacron paper. For the first time, H&M will also share Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data on hm.com indicating the water, C02 & energy impact of each denim garment from raw materials to end of use.
This transparency is matched by the positivity of the fashion, with oversized and cocooning silhouettes as well as workwear shapes that draw on Lee’s esteemed heritage. Lee x H&M features collections for women, men and kids this January and is sure to sell like hotcakes.
Lee x H&M is an ambitious collaboration that has sustainability central to its design. The brands took a holistic approach, looking at every stage of denim production. Fabric is crucial, such as H&M’s first 100% recycled cotton jeans, made from 80% post-industrial waste and 20% post-consumer waste. There’s also denim that’s cotton-free, made instead from renewable man-made fibres, as well as water-saving dyes and lower impact denim washes that are 3rd party verified for their lower water usage, chemical, and energy consumption.
For the women’s collection, wide and loose jeans have a 90s throwback feel, while Lee’s classic Rider jacket is recut with an oversized cocoon shape. Denim corsets add a feminine edge, while dungarees and overshirts bring the functional workwear vibe, alongside Texloop™ RCOT™ Recycled Cotton jersey pieces for the full Lee x H&M look.
Lee x H&M features collections for women, men and kids, and will be available at selected H&M stores, from 28th January.