REJEAN: REPAIR, REINVENTING AND REGENERATING DENIM

Timeless and durable with the quality of becoming more beautiful with age and wear, denim is, by its very nature, enduring. Rooted in workwear, denim has come to be one of the most widely worn fabrics. Its versatility is second to none, worn anywhere from a construction site to the Oscars, worn with heels and as comfortably with trainers (or even flip flops, dare we say it). Denim can be worn, reworn, worn down and, somehow, it maintains an elegance and style.

Image courtesy of ReJean.

Although timeless, mountains of waste denim, destined for landfill, fill warehouses and this is where creativity can step in by using patchwork and quilting techniques to reclaim waste and give its a new leases of life. Tackling this waste, ReJean is a circular denim brand founded in Glasgow in 2019 by Siobhan McKenna creating unisex denim jackets and accessories from 100% reclaimed materials. With a focus on a ‘Vintage workwear’ aesthetic, ReJean creates timeless pieces constructed with the utmost care and attention to detail using a tonal patchwork technique. This patchwork aesthetic becomes construction and decoration simultaneously–linking to craft traditions where the handmade is honoured.

Garments are made using denim textile otherwise detained for landfill. McKenna and her team hand source second hand garments, that are then laundered, deconstructed and remade into one of their designs, be it a jacket, kimono, dungarees or an accessory.

Image courtesy of ReJean.

Each garment saves up to 4kg of denim of landfill. ReJean offers a Repair service, helping customers keep their existing garments in circulation for longer. Furthermore if you fancy learning to repair your own garments, then get along to one of ReJean’s mending clubs in Glasgow. You will Learn to repair your clothes using sashiko stitching.

Image courtesy of ReJean

Read about ReJean and denim's enduring qualities and possibilities from Sarah E. Braddock Clarke in her article Once More With Feeling in Selvedge issue 111. To read the full article CLICK HERE.

Find out more about ReJean:
ejeandenim.com
@rejeandenim_