Denim heads no longer have to choose between authenticity, comfort and sustainability. Turkish denim manufacturer Isko’s latest range of fabrics combines the heritage aesthetic of selvedge with the flexibility and environmentally friendly practices of modern denim.
The makers of jeggings, Isko applied its performance expertise to the new selvedge range, complete with 19 different fabric options that vary in elasticity and span in weight from 7.75 oz. to 14.5 oz.
The authentic rigid offering within the collection consists of 10 fabrics that maintain the raw look of selvedge denim, while the six “comfort stretch” offerings feature a softer, more flexible take on the classic, with 13 percent to 29 percent flexibility. The collection’s remaining “high-stretch” offerings are an even more flexible option, featuring 40 percent to 52 percent elasticity.
The fabrics are available for men’s and women’s collection in a variety of Italian-inspired fashion and Japanese-inspired vintage washes, which emulate selvedge’s signature “worn” looks.
The line of fabrics is a product of the mill’s R-Two platform, which uses a mixture of reused cotton from Isko’s own production loss, and recycled polyester derived from PET bottles. Fabrics can have the Recycled Claim Standard (RSC) certification or Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification depending on the percentage of materials contained.
A marker of fine craftsmanship, selvedge denim often carries a steep price tag because the fabric comes on a 32-inch roll versus the 62-inch standard. This year, brands such as Closed, Todd Snyder, Denham and Grivec Bros. launched collections featuring the classic fabric. Recently however, it has since attracted a wider demographic of consumers and designers, including Walmart. In September, the retailer introduced Free Assembly, a denim-centric apparel brand created by its in-house design team that produces affordable selvedge denim, in addition to other men’s apparel items.