Though the apparel industry is waking up to the need for water stewardship, a new collection by Dockers highlights how it has been an area of focus for the brand and its parent company Levi Strauss & Co. (LS&Co.) for a decade.
Dockers launched this week the 10 Year Water<Less collection, a limited-edition khaki collection made with LS&Co.’s game-changing water-saving dyeing methods. The Water<Less techniques, including specialized dye methods and multiple garment finishing recipes, can reduce the amount of water normally used in the garment finishing process by as much as 96 percent.
Since the introduction of Water<Less in 2010, LS&Co. says the initiative has saved 3.5 billion liters of water and recycled nearly 5 billion liters of water. In the first half of 2020 alone, Dockers saved over 20 million liters of water in the finishing stages of production.
While 47 percent of Dockers’ current line is already produced with Water<Less methods, this collection is unique in that it features a washed, worn-in look that requires specific dyeing and finishing, which the company points out are normally difficult to achieve without a significant amount of water.
The collection includes a hooded sweatshirt, a T-shirt, a utility shirt and the Alpha Khaki in four colorways: olive, yellow, blue, teal and purple. In addition, the collection’s khakis feature internal trim guides to extend the life of the pants as they wear by allowing an easy transition from full length khakis into crops or shorts. The line retails for $34.50-$78.
“It is now more important than ever to focus our efforts on reducing our environmental impact through programs like Water<Less and other innovations,” said Nick Rendic, Dockers global head of design. “We will continue to innovate and design at the intersection of sustainability and style because that’s what feels right for the future of Dockers products and what best represents our values.”
The Dockers 10 Year Water<Less collection is in line with the Water Action Strategy that LS&Co. announced in August. Under this water stewardship strategy, the company is committed to halving water use when manufacturing in water-stressed areas by 2025.
Dockers is also ramping up other areas for more sustainable production. Along with sourcing 100 percent sustainable sourced cotton in the near future, this fall Dockers will introduce a line of products made with recycled polyester. And like its sister brand, Levi’s, it is exploring new opportunities for cottonized hemp.