Are all denim bags upcycled? What to look out for when making your next purchase

Are all denim bags upcycled? What to look out for when making your next purchase

What is upcycled?

Many denim bags like Mooch Denim bags are made from 100% upcycled denim from unwanted jeans and jackets. Upcycling is a circular process, which means that a 'new' item is made from an unwanted item and less waste goes into landfill. Other brands, like some luxury brands, also sell denim bags but the denim they use are sheets of virgin fabric that hasn’t been upcycled.

What’s wrong with virgin denim?

Denim itself is produced from cotton plants, the production of which relies on fossil fuels (mainly for transporting and processing the cotton) and huge amounts of water (to grow the cotton plants). It also involves chemicals that end up in rivers. This is why a denim bag made from virgin denim isn’t a sustainable choice, just like a bag that is made from plastic.

How do you tell if it's upcycled or not?

One easy way is to see whether its been upcycled or made with virgin denim is if there are any existing features of jeans on the bags themselves. For example, you’ll see things like leg seams, belt loops, zippers, hems, waistbands and leather jeans labels on Mooch Denim bags. If you see such things then you can be guaranteed that the bags are completely upcycled and you are making a great choice for the planet.

Another way to tell is to read the product descriptions closely – if there is no mention of the word ‘upcycled denim’, then it’s not!

I hope this helps you feel more confident when it comes to choosing your next denim bag. To get you started, feel free to explore the Mooch Denim range of 100% upcycled denim bags online here!

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