Cotton Incorporated, a research and marketing company representing upland cotton, is showcasing environmentally responsible denim manufacturing options at its booth at the ongoing Show in New York City, taking place from November 2-3 . The company is previewing concept denim constructions by Cone Denim and examples of denim finished using Tonello’s NoStone process.

Cone Denim is a leading supplier of denim fabrics that utilises the cotton plant-derived Archroma EarthColors dye, while Tonello, a global leader of sustainable finishing technologies, developed the NoStone process. This process relies on mechanical action rather than chemistry to achieve stone-wash effects without the carbon footprint associated with pumice stones.

“Denim remains a key category for cotton, and sustainability remains a primary focal point for the entire textile industry. The innovations at our booth address denim traditions and the future of sustainable denim manufacturing,” said Teresa Zugay, account executive, Cotton Incorporated.

The company tapped the expertise of Cone Denim to explore the options of denim dyed with cotton-derived materials. The concept collection, developed at the Cone White Oak facility, presents three different denim base constructions (3 x 1 twill, broken twill and basket weave), each with a range of washdowns, blue-coloured fill and environmentally-responsible finishing techniques such as ozone and laser etching.

“Cone was the ideal partner for this project. With more than 125 years of experience, they know how to stay true to denim's root while meeting the market's desire for innovation. While still in concept stage, we look forward to continuing our partnership to bring this innovation to market,” added Zugay.

“We were delighted to work with Cotton Incorporated on this unique project. We think these denim inspirations have the aesthetic range and environmental appeal that today's denim brands are looking for,” said Allen Little, director product development, Cone Denim.