I decided to check out a little boutique in downtown Frisco. Yes, I said boutique. I heard a story about some recycled jeans they are selling and decided to check it out. The Blue Door Boutique, a cute little shop with a lot of style, carries a lot of interesting clothing and home decor items. Unfortunately for me, none of it is used. They did have the jeans I went in to see. I had heard about these jeans from one of my writer friends. The jeans, made from recycled textiles, were prominently displayed on a table.
At first, I thought REUSE jeans were jeans that were made from old jeans; in the way of taking old jeans and embellishing them or modifying them by merging pieces from several pairs of old, worn out jeans. When I first saw them, I knew the story had to be different from what I had in my head. All of the jeans looked the same in style and in color. They also had a price tag of $85!
Now, in the world of new jeans, this is an acceptable price. For me, this is crazy expensive, as I could go to the thrift store and get a pair of USED jeans for $3-$6. I looked up REUSE to see what they’re all about. I needed to know the story behind this nice looking, yet expensive, clothing line.
REUSE jeans are made from 80% recycled textiles. Here’s a blurb from their site about why they recycle.
“In our world of overflowing landfills and global warming, recycling is more relevant than ever. Recycled jeans help counteract the human effect of the disposable fashion industry, while contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable earth.”
I like that they’re utilizing old clothing to make new clothing, but the price point is bothering me. Here’s some info about that from their site.
“When searching for a new pair of jeans, most shoppers focus on fit and price, paying little attention to the carbon cost of their purchase. True fashion is fueled by innovation and creativity, so shouldn’t your jeans be? “
Yes, I believe this to be true, but is $85 an acceptable price? Surely they’ve saved money on materials, so why charge so much? According to bankfiesta.com, boutique jeans can reflect a markup of 350%. Jeans from mid-level retailers like Kohl’s or JCPenney are lower with an average markup of 115%. Also, I looked at the pricing on their site to see if the boutique marked them up. Nope, this $85 pair is the least expensive pair they make. You can get a skirt or shorts for $75. More specifically, a mini skirt or Daisy Dukes. These might be more sustainable for the earth, but not for my wallet.
“While it may seem counterintuitive, our production process takes place in China. As a region that has long been the center of inexpensive manufacturing, without regard to environmental preservation, China’s landfills are fraught with textile waste, while the air in many urban settings has been deemed unsafe. Notably, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, on certain days, one-fourth of the particulate matter (dust and soot) in Los Angeles originates from China. By helping to reverse the damage in China, we’re not only cleaning-up Asia, but we’re also contributing to a healthier Earth.”
Yes, of course they are made in China. Assuming these aren’t made in a sweat shop, this is a good thing, however China is still the hub of low cost manufacturing. Couldn’t they give a little price break here and also help with a sustainable economy?
If you’re in the market for some new jeans, and you’re willing to pay retail prices, this is a good choice. If you’re tired of paying almost $100, or in some cases more than $100, look at a resale shop. USED clothing retailers have jeans for $15-$25 and thrift stores even less, most being under $10. USED are 100% reused, they’re not in a landfill and a local person is getting a salary from working in the store where you shop.
REUSE is good. Price-wise, it’s not in my realm of financial sustainability, but they’re doing something good. Here’s the acronym for REUSE.
Recycle. Environment. U. Save. Earth.
Here’s my acronym for USED.
Love your acronym!!