New York Denim Days was held September 22 to 23. It served a strong denim style with a side of education about the industry’s progress toward sustainability. The B-2-C event was an opportunity for leaders in the denim supply chain to share their stories with consumers.

Artistic Milliners teamed up with Los Angeles-based denim brand Rising Sun for a line of men’s denim and duffle bags exclusive to Denim Days. The products were made with a recipe of sustainable alternative fibers including Tencel, Repreve and Cordura, and using the mill’s cleanest indigo dyeing technology. The hydro-free dye process is designed to leave clean and recyclable water effluent without any salt by-products and uses 70 per cent less chemicals.

Artistic Milliners also introduced a collection of stuffed denim sea creatures and nautical-themed pillows to stress the importance of ocean conservation. The toys were made with Crystal Clear technology and were filled with sliver collected from its own facility.

Tencel showcased how its fibers are derived from sustainably harvested trees. The narrative continued with a shop-in-shop that highlighted the soft hand feel and performance attributes the fiber brings to denim. Visitors were also encouraged to take selfies with a tree covered in patchwork Tencel denim.