Denim circularity

• Mentorles
• Middelbare school
• mavo, havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 2-6

Denim circularity

A fact or a blue fairytale?

1. Introduction

They have been at the top of the list of favorite garments for decades: the jeans. Why that is the case, no one can simply explain, but one thing is for sure: they were a hit since their first introduction and we do not expect that to ever change.

One should think that a piece of clothing with this track record has few secrets, but nothing could be further from the truth than that. And it´s high time to change that.    

1. How long ago where jeans `invented`?

Hint

The first time jeans were mentioned dates from the end of the Middle Ages.

1. 50 years ago
2. 100 years ago
3. 150 years ago
4. 200 years ago

2. Which people came up with the word´jeans´?

Hint

The word is derived from the word´gênes´, which was a nickname for the sailors of Genoa who first wore them.

1. The Americans
2. The English
3. The French
4. The Italians

3. What was the original purpose of the little pocket
on a pair of jeans?

Hint

The little pocket was invented for laborers. 

1. To store small change
2. To store pieces of gold
3. To store a pocket watch
4. To store a cigarette lighter

2. Jeans as a fashion item

Until the middle of the twentieth century, jeans were worn by sailors, miners, gold diggers and laberors. In those days, the robust working pants were definately not fashionable.

However, after the second world war the piece of clothing was discovered by young people. During the sixties, popular movie stars like Elvis Presley, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe gave jeans the image of garment of the rebellions and a new fashion item was born.

    

4. How many pairs of jeans are currently produced
by the fashion industry?

Hint

The average person owns 5,4 pairs of jeans.

1. 100 million
2. 500 million
3. 1 billion
4. 2 billion

5. And how much money does this industry yearly
earns by selling that amount of jeans?

1. 20 billion dollars
2. 40 billion dollars
3. 60 billion dollars
4. 80 billion dollars

3. The price we have to pay

The most popular jeans are made from unbleached, indigo blue cotton and denim textiles and they weigh 600 grams. The average price we have to pay for them is 40 euro.

Do you think that´s expensive? Actually, it´s far too cheap. If we would pay the workers who pit, spin, weave, cut, sew, wash, finish and transport them a wage they can live on, and if the costs of environmental pollution were included, we should almost pay double that price.

 

    

6. How many hours a week does an average
seamstress work in a jeans factory?

1. 50 hours per week
2. 60 hours per week
3. 70 hours per week
4. 80 hours per week

7. And how much does she get paid per month ?

Hint

The average seamstress earns less than 20 (dollar) cents per hour. 

1. 50 dollars per month
2. 70 dollars per month
3. 90 dollars per month
4. 110 dollars per month

4. The price our planet has to pay

The negative price tag on most jeans is not just caused by inhumane working conditions. A substantial part of the hidden costs of the jeans industry is borne by our planet.

With the production of every single jeans our planet has to invest thousends of liters of increasingly scarce water. But water use is not the only problem of the textile industry: it is is, after the oil and gas industry, the most polluting industry worldwide.

8. How many liters of water is extracted from our
planet in the production of one single jeans?

Hint

It is the same amount of water an average person uses in two months.

1. 6000 litres
2. 7000 litres
3. 8000 litres
4. 9000 litres

9. What percentage of global CO2 emissions is
accounted for by the textile industry?

Hint

It is more than the CO2 emissions of all international aviation and transport by sea combined.

1. 5%
2. 10%
3. 15%
4. 20%

5. Future jeans?

As we look back on two centuries of jeans history, we are on the eve of a new chapter. A new generation of jeans producers and users is slowly taking control. There is no other way, as the disastrous consequences of decades of unlimited jeans production and consumption can no longer be denied. And that fact seems to bring out the best in our specie: the amount of sustainable jeans is increasing by the day and even today you can lease a fine selection of sustainable jeans that will never end up on a trash mountain. Circularity guaranteed!

     

10. What is the main characteristic of circular jeans?

Hint

All answers are correct, but to determine what´s the main characteristic you need to think in circles!

1. Because of the continuous reuse of their materials their lifecycle is almost endless.
2. Because of the innovative production proces they hardly cause any CO2 emission.
3. Because of the innovative production proces less than 500 liters of water is required.
4. Because of the innovative production proces they hardly cause any waste.

Do you also want to do jeans differently?

Visit the website of Mudjeans.eu!

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