Line + Tow || Upcycled, Body-Positive Pieces Made to Last
Remember the conversations happening around textile waste lately, especially after everyone has KonMari-d their wardrobe and are left with bags upon bags of clothes that don’t spark joy? The shirt I’m featuring today brings new meaning to the phrase “one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure”.
It’s from Line + Tow, a brand so sustainable and intentional that I honestly didn’t know where to begin when I started writing about them.
Recycled Denim
What happens to the clothes we toss in the trash or the ones that are donated to thrift stores but never make it to a new home? Unfortunately, they end up in landfills where they take decades or more to biodegrade. When in a landfill, decomposing releases methane, an incredibly harmful greenhouse gas, regardless of the material or fabric. Synthetics like polyester, lycra and nylon take hundreds (HUNDREDS) of years to biodegrade.
This is why it’s so vital to not only decrease your consumption overall, but to be mindful of where and how you dispose of items you no longer want or need.
Line + Tow has taken matters into their own hands when it comes to ensuring they’re not creating a product that will be wasteful in the long run — and to sweeten the deal, they’re actually saving excess fabric from landfills at the same time.
All of Line + Tow’s pieces are made with fabric sourced from The New Denim Project, a factory based in Guatemala City. The New Denim Project upcycles textile waste from old jeans and other natural fibers, strips them down, and spins them into new thread for new materials. They use a closed loop system, meaning all of their “discarded materials” are reused in their process. Their manufacturing process is dye-free, chemical free, and saves massive amounts of water and energy compared to traditional manufacturing.
They utilize only natural fibers in their production so that, in turn, all of the pieces made with their fabrics will biodegrade on their own. Any waste generated from their process is then donated to local coffee farmers to act as composted fertilizer.
There are a handful of incredible factories in the world that prioritize reducing waste, but The New Denim Project is one of the most incredible that I’ve ever read about.
Intentional Design
Line + Tow designs their pieces to reduce waste and increase wear from the get-go. They utilize right angles and minimize elastics, zippers, and other less environmentally friendly additions to ensure they reduce fabric waste. Their designs are meant to be durable and able to withstand the wear of everyday life.
Body Inclusive
I’m amazed at how inclusive Line + Tow’s designs are. Their sizing is meant to fit women of all shapes and sizes. Each piece is either meant to be loose and over-sized, or is adjustable to fit your body during its inevitable fluctuations. I’m wearing their Utility Button Down, because I knew it would fit me throughout pregnancy and beyond AND I could wear it to breastfeed in too. It’s easy to layer, but also is chic and cozy all on it’s own, unbuttoned over another top or buttoned up.
The denim is structured but soft. It could easily be tied up, tucked in, and layered under or over without feeling stuffy or bunched. I especially love the extra length it adds to my sweaters and other tops at the moment.
Line + Tow is still in their first year of production — a critical time for many brands to establish themselves and create a customer base that shares their values and admires their product. I get the chance to work with lots of amazing brands, but this collaboration with Line+Tow has been in the works for months and it’s rare to find a brand that encompasses eco-friendly production, body-inclusive design, AND timelessness so well. If you’re in the market for wardrobe staples that will last you years to come you can shop their Denim Collection here (I especially love their Homesteader Skirt and, of course, the Utility Button Down).
*This post is in partnership with Line + Tow. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make the world a little better.*
