Natural mineral powders are behind a whole new look for Crystal Denim.
The denim subsidiary of Hong Kong–based Crystal International Group Limited (CIGL) recently launched the Vibrant Denim Collection, a range of indigo denim overdyed with natural mineral dyes.
The salt-free dyeing method results in new shades with nuanced depths and variations, the company said. Colors span citrus, coral, orchid and olive derived from soil, celadonite, hematite and grains.
The dyes offer high fastness and reproducibility.
“Overdyed colors on mid wash-based denim with hand-sanding effect bring a vintage mood, while enriched soil colors match well with authentic denim vibe,” Crystal Denim stated. The natural dyes also look strong over acid and tie-dye bleach techniques.
Natural dyes are rising in the denim market. Levi’s launched a natural dye collaboration with Ganni last year. Renewable dyes are also part of AG’s Jeans of Tomorrow biodegradable denim range.
Color and artisanal dyes are adding newness to the denim category. Trend forecasting firm Fashion Snoops named texture and color as a key theme to watch for Fall/Winter 23-24 as designers embrace grittier aesthetics. Meanwhile, overdyed denim was a part of Foo and Foo’s modern take on grunge for this spring.
Overdyeing denim fabric with natural and renewable dyes has sustainable benefits, Crystal Denim stated. The collection complies with Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and Oeko-Tex Standard. The dyes are registered on ZDHC MRSL Conformance (Level 1) and GOTS version 6.0. Crystal Denim also uses water-efficient washing technologies, including waterless enzyme, laser and ozone processes.
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The Vibrant Denim Collection builds on Crystal Denim’s existing sustainable collections. In 2020, the manufacturer introduced Second Life denim, which recycles pre-consumer cut waste into new fabric for a closed-loop denim process. It also rolled out 4Zero, a collection made without manual work, stones, potassium permanganate or sodium hypochlorite.
Last year, Crystal introduced a low-climate-impact net-zero jean created with sustainable materials and certified by Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency (HKQAA).