A good pair of men's jeans is an essential wardrobe staple. You can also choose these more sustainably. Meet Bukser Jeans: a Dutch denim brand that, when making its trousers, not only looks at the fit and style, but also at water consumption, travel distance and quality, ensuring your new men's jeans really last.
Why a more sustainable jeans is worth searching for
Making a pair of jeans requires quite a few raw materials. Growing cotton requires water, and dyeing, washing and finishing denim also takes water and energy. On top of that, the various parts of a pair of jeans are sometimes made on multiple continents. As a result, a pair of jeans has often travelled a long way before ending up in your wardrobe. Bukser tries to keep that chain shorter and more transparent, which is why it is a great tip for men looking for a luxury jeans which also takes a more sustainable approach.
Italian denim with a better story
Bukser's more sustainable story begins in Italy. There, the fabric is woven by Candiani Denim, a family business that has been making denim since 1938. It is precisely during the dyeing, washing and finishing of denim that a significant amount of water and energy is normally used. Candiani developed techniques to reduce that consumption and reuses a large proportion of the water. Fortunately, more sustainable does not have to mean stiffer or less comfortable. The jeans consist largely of cotton, supplemented with lyocell. This addition is common in more sustainable jeans and makes the fabric soft and breathable. Lyocell is made from wood fibres and its production generally requires less water than cotton. A small percentage of synthetic stretch fibres also ensure that the trousers fit comfortably, provide sufficient freedom of movement and keep their shape well.
After weaving, the denim goes to Portugal, where artisans assemble and finish the trousers. Founder Nino Sumah visited the production site himself and deliberately chose to partner with makers relatively close to home. In this way, Bukser keeps the most important production steps within Europe and the lines of communication with the producers short.
From attic room to jeans brand
Also nice is the story behind Bukser. Founder Nino Sumah started the brand in his grandparents' attic room. Grandfather printed the shipping labels and grandmother helped take the packages to the post office. You can hardly start on a smaller scale. Bukser has since grown into a fully-fledged Dutch menswear brand, but that attention to how and where trousers are made has remained.
Versatile jeans (also for taller men)
A pair of trousers might have a great story on paper, but if they never leave the wardrobe, they are not much use to you. That is why Bukser makes jeans that you can easily wear in different ways. With a shirt and smart shoes to the office, but just as easily with a T-shirt and trainers at the weekend. The idea is simple: one good pair of trousers that you reach for time and again. The collection consists of various shades of blue and grey, plus a number of lighter colours. Also good to know: there are multiple waist and length sizes available. Attention tall men, because the length sizes go all the way up to size 38.
Bonus tip: don't automatically throw your jeans in the wash after wearing them for one day. Airing them out for a bit is often enough. Only wash them when it's really necessary and let them air dry. That way, they stay looking good for longer.
Photo credits: Cottonbro.
