Advance Denim has opened a new fully integrated denim mill in Vietnam with Advance Sico. Located in Nah Trang, Vietnam, Advance Sico is designed to efficiently manufacture and ship more products to fulfill growing demand throughout Vietnam and Cambodia. With Vietnam emerging as a popular manufacturing alternative to China in recent years, Advance Sico believes the country will continue to grow as a global apparel powerhouse with its support.

Advance Sico aims to use 90 per cent sustainable fibers by 2023. Additionally, 100 per cent of all indigo used at Advance Sico will be Archroma aniline-free liquid indigo. This ensures that minimal sodium hydrosulfite will be used and no carcinogenic aniline will be present in the company’s indigo dyeing process, ultimately eliminating hazards within the production process. During typical denim production, some aniline stays locked into the indigo pigment and can be difficult to wash off the fabric. The remainder of the aniline impurity is discharged during dyeing. This poses concern as aniline is toxic to aquatic life, and elevated exposure levels can put factory workers at risk.

While Advance Sico aims to commit to pure indigo, the mill also operates its own state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water purification system on site to remove any harmful impurities from its effluent water supply. As Advance Sico grows and diversifies its manufacturing capabilities, the company isn’t losing sight of its goal to produce the highest-quality denim with minimal environmental impact.

The manufacturer believes that crafting true indigo comes from rope dyeing, and it is already operating two indigo rope ranges designed to dye the highest-quality vintage shades. To replicate these shades, Advance Sico has a team of expert Japanese dyeing technicians that have been crafting rope shades for more than 30 years.