Noble Denim: Upcycled Utility Suits

Introducing NOBLE DENIM— in collaboration with the New Denim Project, we've spent the past two years developing our infamous Utility Suit in upcycled, chemical and dye free denim! Launching for Adults and Kids next Thursday 3/9 @ 9am PST.

Noble is proud to be partnering with The New Denim Project to introduce Noble Upcycled Denim. As its name suggests, the project exists to use a new, different type of denim that’s better for you and better for the only planet we must call home. The secret? Circularity. A raw denim fabric in its purest form. Made from collecting and sorting post-industrial textile waste from local jean garment factories in Guatemala. The raw, natural materials are collected, ground into fiber, and spun into new yarns without the use of a single dye or chemical. Mere miles away, you’ll find Irma’s humble sew shop where this New Denim is transformed into our Noble upcycled denim creations that are one-hundred percent natural, compostable, and exist at the intersection of fashion and function.

Why upcycled denim? The denim industry is notorious for being an environmentally damaging industry. A single pair of non-organic cotton jeans may use upwards of 1,800 gallons of water. Additionally, most of the cotton used is grown with harmful fertilizers and pesticides which are bad for both us and the planet. 

Over the past year and a half we have devoted our time hunting down the most environmentally friendly upcycled denim for our suits and we've been privleged to partner with a woman-run family owned factory to produce this limited collection. 

MEET IRMA, Guatemala's factory owner, mother & expert sewer:

Tell us the story of how you started your business? I started working when I was very young at a factory near the capital, which is where I met my husband, I was 14 and he was 18. I got married when I was 17 years old and we started our family. While married, my husband encouraged me to take different sewing classes since I was unable to keep working at the factory. I knew how to use a sewing machine, but I did not know how to cut patterns & I had to start thinking of ways of how to make more money since growing our family by 4 children, Brenda, Jonathan, Quebyn & Robin. On some occasions I would need to go to work, but I always felt like I needed to take care of my children. By the end of 2013 I gained confidence to do a bigger project, I made the whole costumes for a dance group for the local fair in my town. By the following year, my brother in law was working with some foreigners & some girls asked him if he knew of someone who knew how to sew, and he recommended me. Her name was Jessica of Stela 9. I have to admit, I was very scared, but it has definitely been the best decision I’ve ever made. I started off with some shorts for her and they loved my work. From then on, our family's situation got better and better and I was also able to help my sister with work. Jessica then connected me with Averie & Rachel and because of them I have been able to get a lot more work which opened the doors to more brands getting to know my work which led to growing my team. Some of the brands I have worked with are Tribe Alive which are now Laude The Label, Minna Goods, Marra Home, plus more and now I am able to add Noble as well. The road has not been easy, but I have been working hard to be able to improve the quality of my work every single day. 

 What do you feel makes your workshop special? What are you most proud of with the work that you do? What I think makes our workshop special, I think, is the fact that I work with my family and I am given the opportunity to help more people with work. And what makes me feel proud of my work is that it has been able to cross borders and because of that I have been able to provide for my children. 

What do you love most about living in Guatemala? What I love the most about living here is the weather, nature and its landscapes. I live where there's a volcano called Volcan de Agua in the capital of Guatemala. I also love being from here because of its culture and traditions and for its diversity in languages, even though I don't speak any local dialects. Our upcycled Denim Utility Suits are a limited collection— this 'shade' of denim will not be able to be replicated making this a one-of-a-kind drop or suits!Available for Adults in sizes XS-XXL, these will fit similarly to our canvas suits yet be a bit more structured of a fit.Norma is 5'11" wearing a size Small / Bust: 31.5" Waist: 27" Hips: 38"Tam is 5'8" wearing a size XL / Bust: 44" Waist: 38" Hips: 48"
Available for Kids which features NEW BIG KID SIZING (!!!)

12-18M, 18-24M, 2-3Y, 3-4Y, 4-5Y, XS (5-6Y), Small (7-8Y) & Medium (9-10Y) & Large (11-12Y), these will fit similarly to our canvas suits yet be a bit more structured of a fit.
Mimi is wearing a size XS / Height: 53" Weight: 55lbs

NOBLE DENIM UTILITY SUITS launch next Thursday, March 9th @ 9am PST! Be sure to sign up for SMS alerts to be notified as soon as these pieces are live!

VIDEO & FACTORY PHOTOS BY: SET APART STUDIO

STUDIO PHOTOS BY: @RACHELCAST & @RICOCAST