A Jean-ious Idea: The Care To Air Contest
Date: June 21, 2010 | Category: Events, Fashion, Media, Men, Women

We all love our baby blues. But whether your preference lies with skinny leg styles or the classic 501s, you’ll be surprised to learn that close to 60% of a pair of jean’s environmental impact comes from consumer use after point of purchase - in other words, how you choose to care for your jeans.
Throughout its lifecycle, a pair of jeans consumes as much energy as powering a personal computer for 556 hours! That’s why simple choices like washing in cold, washing less, and line-drying will make a huge difference - not to mention a reduction on your electric bill and jeans that keep that perfect fit even longer. And when your denim has done all it can for you, make sure to donate to goodwill or send your jeans in to be made into recycled denim insulation.
So now that you know these small steps can add up to make a huge difference, why not think even bigger? This summer Levi’s is looking for the most innovative air-drying solution on the market for their Care To Air Design Challenge. Be inspired to think outside the box - or line, so to speak and submit your designs for voting and judging by July 31st.
(Image of the Sun Dyer, one of the many entries already submitted)
If you’re in LA, come by Dwell on Design to see a custom air-drying “clothes tower” designed by Josiah Cain of Design Ecology for the Modern Living Showhouse. Entries will be judged on the design’s aesthetics, sustainability, creativity and more importantly, adaptability (view current entries here). So get those creative juices flowing because there’s $10,000 up for grabs! Not really the inventor type? You can still join in the movement by voting and providing feedback on the entries. The “Most Valuable Community Member” will get their fair share, $500 to be exact.
Sound like a jean-ious idea to us.
Comments
Clean Planet
Date: August 5th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
While the use by a consumer may be resource intensive the manufacturing of denim fabric and then the washes on the jeans are an environ problem. The chemicals used , the sheer quantum of water and energy used are enormous.
It’s a good idea to wash clothes (not only jeans) in cold water and hang dry them.
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