Stella McCartney Brand Book

SUSTAINABILITY
BIODEGRADABLE DENIM
BIODEGRADABLE DENIM
In January 2020, Stella McCartney continued to push its commitment to sustainable fabric
innovation with the introduction of the world’s first biodegradable, stretch denim using plantbased
yarns into its collections.
The innovative denim created by Italian manufacturer Candiani will be introduced in the British
designer’s autumn/winter 2020 collection and utilizes Coreva Stretch Technology, which
is created by using organic cotton wrapped around a natural rubber cord, resulting in a fabric
that is free from plastics and micro-plastics.
By replacing the common synthetic and petrol-based elastomers with a new, custom-engineered
component, Candiani explains that it has been able to create an innovative biodegradable stretch
denim fabric without compromising elasticity.
While all Stella McCartney denim is made with 100 percent organic cotton, traditional denim
production requires a huge volume of water and toxic dyes and chemicals to create one pair of
jeans. The Coreva Stretch Technology is produced in a safe, toxic-free environment.
In addition, the fabric is made with two smart-dyeing techniques during production, explains
Candiani, that reduces the consumption of water, energy and chemicals used in the dyeing and
laundry processes.
Kitotex Vegetal is a patented biodegradable ingredient derived from mushrooms and seaweed
that is used as a replacement for sizing agents, starch, fixation agents and polyvinyl alcohol
(PVA), while Indigo Juice is used to keep the indigo superficial on the yarn.
Stella McCartney’s autumn/winter 2020 collection features 10 pieces in two styles made with
Candiani’s patented, plant-based Coreva Stretch Technology. The pieces will be available instore
and online globally from May 2020.
Stella McCartney Biodegradable Denim.
37