Though a newcomer to the world of jeanswear, sustainability-focused materials science and apparel company Pangaia is quickly expanding its assortment.
The brand will release its third denim collection on Feb. 18, featuring two workwear-inspired styles available in three colors, including one dyed with Archroma’s EarthColors. The natural pigments are sourced from renewable, non-edible waste products such as nut shells and leaves leftover from the food and herbal industries.
“Pangaia continues to research, identify, and refine materials science innovations across every stage of production, including the dyeing stage,” the company stated. “We’re constantly searching for new solutions and partnering with breakthrough innovators to scale the next generation of dyes that are kinder to the planet.”
The collection offers a unisex jacket—equipped with four front pockets—and straight fit carpenter jeans are made with 80 percent organic cotton and 20 percent hemp blended fabrics from Orta. The same combination is used in Pangaia’s hemp denim collection, PANHemp, launched last fall in partnership with industry veteran Jonathan Cheung.
Color options for the workwear-inspired pieces include acorn khaki, ecru ivory and beetroot pink, which is dyed with EarthColors.
Pangaia is exploring various ways to create sustainable denim. Best known for its colorful loungewear, the brand introduced denim last October with a first-of-its-kind fabric: a 13-ounce, 92 percent organic cotton and 18 percent Himalayan nettle blend woven at low speeds on Candiani Denim’s shuttle loom.
“As a company that is focused on materials innovations, nothing is out of scope. To date we have received very positive feedback from customers on the first collections and we look forward to learning more from our community as we introduce this latest iteration,” the company stated.
The debut line was followed by the hemp range and custom jeans produced in collaboration with robotics and digital apparel company Unspun in November.
The addition of EarthColors builds on an industry-wide trend toward natural dyes. Outland Denim bows clay-dyed jeans this month. Dyes derived from food sources were also a key part of Levi’s Wellthread collection this season.
The workwear collection will be available on Pangaia’s website and retail for $225-$250 in unisex sizes XS-XL and 25-34.