SUSTAINABLE DENIM LAUNDRY
Image courtesy of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers, London’s sole denim clothing manufacturer, is launching the UK’s first environmentally innovative craft denim wash facility, to be housed at the brand’s artisanal factory in London’s thriving Walthamstow regeneration area.
The launch of Blackhorse Lane’s Denim Wash Lab and Innovation Hub will, for the first time, give British brands and designers the opportunity to conduct research and development on-shore in the UK - previously they would have had to travel to the world’s leading denim houses located in either Italy or Japan. It also opens up the opportunity for the very first time for students to have access to a world-class facility on their home turf.
Image courtesy of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Funding for the facility, which will operate both commercially and as a learning resource for students, was secured in conjunction with Chelsea College Centre for Circularity (UAL), through a government backed creative and scientific innovation fund that supports sustainable research and development projects. In line with Blackhorse Lane Aterliers core values, the washing and finishing lab will be a space where students, small start-ups and larger heritage brands will be able to research and develop new and more sustainable ways of working with denim washes.
At the centre of the new facility are two state-of-the-art machines - the G1 70 All-in-One washing machine and THE LASER - made by respected Italian denim machinery specialists, Tonello, who, through pioneering technology, are continually improving the performance of their equipment to further reduce impact on the environment. The two machines, along with the company’s METRO software, which provides real time data to control all laundry consumption, optimise process times, and improve performance together form their proprietary Laundry (R)Evolution set up.
Image courtesy of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Where standard denim washing uses 70 to 100 litres per wash along with tonnes of chemicals and stones, the Tonello system, which uses oxygen as part of the process, can ‘wash’ 12 pairs of jeans in 4 litres of water.
The benefits of facilitating research and development around sustainable laundering and finishing in London to the industry are manifold - alongside the desire to build on the socially oriented business model at the heart of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers through an open access programme, factory owner Bilgehan “Han” Ates greatest ambition is the potential for UK designers to develop a unique ‘London’ aesthetic.
With the flexibility of the small minimums the research and development centre will enable, Ates believes that designers will be able to push the boundaries of creativity where previously high minimums have forced them to play it safe.
Ates commented: “We are very excited to be starting from a blank page - it means we have all that space to play and create, and whatever you play with and create with London knowhow, will inevitably become a London or even UK aesthetic. Our assumption and beliefs are, when a London or British designer comes to a London wash technician, through their shared cultural experiences, they will understand each other better, and encourage each other further, to create a more uniquely identifiable London or British aesthetic”.
About Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers is London’s only craft-jeans maker. The brand makes ready-to-wear selvedge and organic raw denim jeans in its own factory in Walthamstow, East London with the ethos of encouraging its customers to “buy less, repair more”.
Image courtesy of Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
Founded in 2015 by Bilgehan “Han” Ates’ and leveraging his 30 years of experience in the textile industry, the brand’s drive to keep the art of tailoring alive through denim has led to a strong focus on education. Alongside values of sustainability, transparency and unrivalled quality, Blackhorse Lane Ateliers actively opens up its manufacturing expertise to the community to inspire a deeper appreciation for garments and their production process. In just six years the brand itself has accrued a cult following among denim aficionados while its factory also produces garments for clients including TOAST, Studio Nicholson, Mr Porter and Matches Fashion.
Video courtesy ofBlackhorse Lane Ateliers
Find out more:
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers
@blackhorselane