In February 2021, Closed will launch a capsule collection as part of its A Better Blue eco-denim line (also see here). This new selection of the German denim and fashion brand offers completely degradable Made in Italy stretch jeans and jackets and includes two jeans fits for women, Gill and X-Lent, plus the jacket Twist, and the X-Lent and Drop fits, and a classic denim jacket for men.

All garments are made of organic cotton and biodegradable stretch yarn Coreva, developed by the Italian denim mill Candiani, which has been partner of Closed for over 14 years and, along with the Italian denim laundry Everest, was a major contributor in the creation of previous drops from A Better Blue. Candiani is known for its sustainable denim innovations and, as it is headquartered in Robecchetto near Milan, an environmental protection area, it considers itself the “greenest weaving mill in the blue world.” The Italian denim manufacturer has developed the innovative, patented stretch yarn Coreva consisting of natural rubber, a sustainable alternative to conventional stretch yarns which mostly consist of elastane or other petrochemical fibers that can take centuries to decompose and pollute the environment. Coreva, on the other hand, decomposes after about six months on the compost without leaving any residue and is therefore much more eco-friendly. To make these garments fully degradable, Closed has also substituted all other components of the jeans and jackets with natural alternatives. It replaced zippers and metal buttons with vegetable corozo buttons dyed with indigo pigments of plant origin. The studs are sewn on with Tencel thread, which is also used for all seams. The Closed logo does not appear on a leather patch but in lasered form. The labels consist of the degradable fabric Vinatur. The care label is made of organic cotton and all prints are made with natural pigments. All components also decompose on the compost without leaving any residue and without harming the environment. Therefore, these jeans and jackets can be naturally degraded in a compost–without any microplastic residue or chemical emission. The garments of this collection were dyed and washed by using environmentally friendly methods that save water, chemicals and electricity, all techniques that Closed has been using since 2018 for its own eco-denim line. Detailed figures about the savings on water, electricity and chemicals can be found in Closed’s 2018/2019 sustainability report. The new report will be published in early 2021.

Uwe Kippschnieder, denim developer, Closed, and Simon Giuliani, global marketing director, Candiani Denim, explained how the project originated and where it will lead them.


Why did you start this project together?
Simon Giuliani (SG): The relationship between Candiani and Closed dates back to the early days of the brand. In all these years we've built a solid and trusted collaboration which led to a close friendship.
Both Closed and Candiani strive to constantly evolve their product. The genuine interest of Closed in our innovations gave birth to an R&D process that eventually brought to light the “A Better Blue” collection. Following that path the brand adopted all our latest sustainable innovations and built them into their jeans.
Due to the R&D relationship Closed is one of the first brands to access our latest and most relevant solution so far: Coreva.