CanvaLoop is on a mission to bring hemp back to mainstream fashion, one pair of jeans at a time.
The alternative fibers and material science company recently launched a Kickstarter campaign for its first consumer product called Slow Jeans, a line of sustainable jeans described as the “world’s first Himalayan hemp jeans.”
Along with comfort and style, the startup touts the jeans’ sustainable and ethical footprint. By using rain-fed Himalayan hemp, Slow Jeans says it saves 3,500 liters of water per jeans. The company has also partnered with a factory that uses recycled water and natural indigo dyes.
Additionally, the jeans are reportedly up to four times more durable than the average pair of jeans and offer the wearer natural anti-microbial properties that prevent the development of odor-causing bacteria.
Slow Jeans is the brainchild of CanvaLoop founder and CEO Shreyans Kokra. Hailing from a line of textile professionals, Kokra was inspired to lessen the industry’s impact on the environment.
“Belonging to a family business that has been in synthetic textiles for over 40 years, I have witnessed first-hand the impact of fashion on the environment,” he said. “When I discovered hemp, I realized its potential to replace mainstream textile materials as a much more sustainable alternative.”
Though hemp is known for its rough handle, through CanvaLoop, Kokra developed a 100 percent green proprietary technology that converts the hard bark of the plant to fiber soft enough for contemporary apparel.
Jeans, however, prove to be the ultimate sustainable statement as a garment known for its enduring design. Echoing sentiments shared by denim experts who consider hemp to be the fiber of the future, Kokra said hemp offers a world of untapped opportunities.
Slow Jeans arrives at a time when consumers are prioritizing sustainability and apparel with antimicrobial benefits. The brand offers three fits (regular, slim and skinny) in three shades (black, sky and indigo). Jeans retail for $89.
With a pledge of $29, Kickstarter backers can also receive a pack of five Himalayan hemp face masks.
Jeans will only go into production if the company meets its $10,000 goal by Dec. 20. From there, jeans will be produced in January and February and delivered to consumers in March.