DECONSTRUCTING SUSTAINABLE DESIGNS WITH HARGAN DENIM
When you envision a staple outfit from your wardrobe, what are some pieces that pop into your mind? Perhaps it’s a well-loved sweater that keeps you warm and cozy in the winter months. Maybe you have a favorite pair of shoes or boots that help you navigate the world with comfortable ease. You might picture a structured blazer that adds a level of sophistication to any outfit you put together. The tops, shoes and accessories for many of our go-to outfits may be different, but I would be willing to bet most of us are picturing our favorite pair of denim jeans to complete the look.
Denim plays a special role in our lives. A good pair of jeans can make you feel attractive, confident and comfortable. And, if you’re on the hunt for quality, sustainable denim-wear this winter season, look no further than the stylish, re-constructed designs showcased by Hargan Denim!
Hargan Denim was founded in 2019 by Reagan Begley. The company specializes in using vintage denim material to remake fashionable, trendy pieces for its customers. The name was inspired by Reagan’s bond with her sister, Harrison. She took the first part of Harrison, added it to the last part of her own name, and Hargan was born.
“Denim tells a story,” said Reagan. “Whether it is the first pair of jeans you bought, a vintage pair that reminds you of a memory, or a pair that makes you feel like the best-looking human in the world, denim continues to play an active role in your life. I build my denim knowing that you are going to be creating another memory in this pair of jeans.”
Hargan Denim utilizes vintage jeans and denim made from 100 percent cotton to hand-make new, innovative clothing pieces for its trendy customer base.
Reagan’s journey to creating Hargan started when she was a little girl. She said she always loved designing, even as a youngster. When it came time to select a school after graduation, Reagan enrolled in The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise in Los Angeles.
While pursuing her Advanced Degree in Denim, Reagan was struck by the environmental impact and waste generated during the manufacturing process of the popular fabric. She was right to be concerned.
Cotton is the primary material used to produce denim, and it requires A LOT of water to grow. In fact, it takes about 7,660 gallons of water to produce a little more than two pounds of cotton. On top of that, we don’t typically wander into the store and pick up raw, rough denim products. We want our jeans to be soft and ready-to-wear, which means factories have to pre-wash the denim, using even more water to artificially wear down and distress the fabric to make it ready for purchase.
Additionally, we often want our jeans to come in a variety of washes and colors. Dark, light, acid wash, black—all these iterations require different dyes and chemicals to tailor the jeans to the specifications required by consumers. All those chemicals can have a massive negative impact on waterways and communities that house denim factories. For example, Xintang, a city in southern China, is one of the leading producers of denim in the world. Limited regulations on manufacturing mean that chemicals are dumped into waterways that are utilized by local residents. The contamination has lead many factory workers and residents to suffer health problems, including rashes and lesions, and it is possibly linked to infertility.
That doesn’t even begin to touch on the millions of tons of clothing items that end up in landfills every year. Of the 17 million tons of textile waste produced in 2018, 11.3 million tons ended up in a landfill, and only 2.5 million tons were recycled.
“We have steadily generated more waste over the years, filling our landfills, not to mention a whole host of other environmental problems faced by the world,” said Reagan. “Yet, sustainable clothing can actually help address many of these issues. Even better, clothing is something that everyone needs and uses, making it an extremely accessible avenue for the average person to affect change.”
And Hargan Denim absolutely provides customers the opportunity to reduce their own carbon footprint by rethinking industry standards, imposing ethical values and maintaining a sharp design motif.
The company’s aesthetic was realized through one of Reagan’s final projects when she was receiving her Associate of Arts in fashion design at FIDM. She said she needed to make a sample for a patterning final, and being a broke college kid, fabric was hard to come by. However, her education provided her with detailed knowledge about denim, especially if it was made from 100 percent cotton. So, she cut up some old jeans and fashioned them into a unique, patch-work pair of pants. Reagan’s project was a hit! Soon her classmates were asking her to design them a pair, and she realized a brand could be created out of repurposing denim.
Reagan said Hargan Denim’s foundation is built upon three main components: Sustainability, Durability and Travel. Her collections are inspired by her travels to cities around the word, including Amsterdam and Tokyo, and she hopes people see and feel small pieces of those adventures when they wear her clothes.
And she is certainly serious about making sustainable products for consumers looking to up their eco-friendly fashion game. Hargan utilizes a circular fashion model for its design philosophy. All Hargan clothing products are handmade, and the material is sourced from vintage jeans. This fabric selection was intentional. Choosing vintage denim made from 100 percent cotton allows Reagan to reinvent brand-new pieces out of the old material while ensuring all Hargan Denim clothing can be recycled once the wearer is done with the product. The end result leaves customers with unique, one-of-a-kind pants, jackets, overalls and dresses.
Hargan’s commitment to sustainability is not limited to sourcing vintage denim. The company offers lifetime repairs on all its pieces, guaranteeing customers get maximum wear out of the products they purchase. Clothing tags are made out of seed paper. Shipping and packaging materials are recyclable and biodegradable, and Hargan will take back any product at the end of its use by customers to be recycled or repurposed into new pieces.
Hargan Denim's Design Philosophy.
Reagan’s dedication to creating stylish, sustainable clothing is empowering for her customers and the fashion industry. Hargan Denim is an excellent example of how art and practicality can combine to make pieces that are truly special. And Reagan believes that her customers are making a larger impact on the planet by choosing green options over fast-fashion convenience.
“I always love referencing the quote, ‘Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world’ [by Howard Zinn],” said Reagan. “If you take a step back and look at every little bad impact that makes up the big issue, it is possible to change. It just takes the right people, who have the heart and are willing to put in the time and effort.”
If you are interested in learning more about Hargan Denim or purchasing some of their pieces, (perhaps for someone special this holiday season) check out their website here!
Links:
Website: https://www.hargandenim.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hargandenim/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hargandenim
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hargandenim/pins/
Have any questions about Hargan Denim or additional thoughts on sustainable fashion? Leave a comment below, or reach out to us at blog@litefootcompany.com.
Sources:
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/are-my-denim-jeans-bad-environment
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/how-jeans-became-one-of-the-most-polluting-garments-in-the-world-1.5280773
https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data