Calik Denim’s latest offering tackles weft shrinkage, a pain point the denim mill considers to be a top problem facing the textile industry in terms of sustainability.
Featured in its most recent BlueVasion collection for Spring/Summer 2023 launched in October, its E-Last technology ensures a low and stabilized weft shrinkage value range of up to 3.5 percent for power-stretch fabrics, which are normally the most problematic due to shrinkage values in the garment makers’ production processes. The technology can withstand multiple laundry processes both in production and at home, meaning the garment will never shrink, sag or pucker for the entirety of its life cycle.
According to Calik, this is especially crucial for manufacturers, as stable weft shrinkage values limit the size variances and demand fewer patterns in the laundry process. The dimensional stability provides seamless measurement, allowing garment makers to lay the template, cut and sew, and wash without obstacles.
The technology debuts at a time when stretch denim is a top focus area for the industry. A number of brands utilize power-stretch technology for one-size-fits-most denim, which simplifies fit and reduces the wearer’s need to buy new jeans as weight fluctuates. In 2020, Calik worked with Good American to create the fabric for its one size fits many jeans. The brand’s “Always Fits” denim is a skinny fit, high-rise jean available in five size categories ranging from 00 to 32+ with 100 percent stretchability.
Along with added comfort, multi-size denim offers sustainable upsides. High-stretch denim is more accommodating to weight fluctuation, meaning it’s less likely to be discarded as a person’s size changes. Additionally, size-less denim can help lower return or exchange rates, ultimately mitigating carbon emissions associated with shipping.
In line with E-Last technology, Calik’s E-Denim innovation is another newly introduced sustainable concept. The mill developed the solution to incorporate high levels of recycled content into denim without sacrificing quality. Using this technology, it can increase its total recycled content rate to 50 percent in stretch fabrics—well above the industry average of 20 percent—and 80 percent to 100 percent in rigid product groups. Both solutions are part of Calik’s larger sustainability vision, which includes boosting raw material procurement, reducing its carbon footprint and facilitating innovation and thought leadership by 2025.
