Levi’s® has partnered with Clothes to Good in running a jeans collection drive, as part of the brand’s global Buy Better, Wear Longer initiative. The drive calls on the public to donate their pre-loved jeans, no matter the brand, at their nearest Levi’s® store. The donated jeans are provided to Clothes to Good to assist in the creation of employment opportunities for South African women in need, and ultimately keep jeans out of landfills.
Clothes to Good is a value-centred, fully-inclusive social enterprise that is committed to operating as a green ecosystem. Among the organisation’s initiatives is its micro-business programme. The programme currently empowers 108 women – 56 of whom have children with disabilities – to become successful entrepreneurs in their communities by selling recycled, pre-loved clothes. Jeans that are not in a re-sellable condition are upcycled into new items, including toys for children with disabilities.
“We are excited to partner with Clothes to Good on this initiative, as it’s a priority for us to drive towards true circularity. Our jeans are made to last, which is good for the environment because repurposing jeans uses a fraction of the energy and water it takes to make new ones. We want to continue to educate consumers to donate and recycle anything they’re no longer wearing to benefit the environment and the community,” says Head of Marketing for Levi’s South Africa, Candace Gilowey.
Clothes to Good will responsibly recycle and upcycle the jeans donated from the jeans drive initiative, through their fully-inclusive green ecosystem. Their team are able to weigh, sort and categorise the donated jeans. This sorting process is guided by the European Union Waste Hierarchy for textile recycling, and all Levi’s® apparel collected will be recycled on levels 1 – 4.
Any items that are re-usable in their current form will be used to help mothers of children with disabilities to start their own micro-businesses selling this product. All jeans that cannot be re-used in their current form will be assessed for upcycling, and these items will be processed into Early Childhood development and disability-specific toys and resources. Additionally, Levi’s® & Clothes To Good will be upcycling a portion of the donated jeans into various Levi’s® home and lifestyle products to showcase how jeans can be re-imagined, and these items will be sold at a pop-up in Sandton.
From the 28th of September to the 4th of October 2021, Levi’s® fans in the Sandton area will have the opportunity to purchase this limited-edition range of upcycled home and lifestyle product made from the Levi’s® donated jeans, with all proceeds from sales going to Clothes To Good. The pop-up will be hosted in Sandton City Mall near the Levi’s® store for a period of one week.
“Our dream is to empower; especially mothers of children with disabilities, to produce these upcycled products from the convenience of their homes, while also caring for their children and positively impacting our planet,” says Tammy Greyling, Operations Director and Occupational Therapist of Clothes to Good.
Conscious consumers can support the jeans drive initiative by dropping off their jeans at one of the following participating Levi’s® Stores: Waterfront, Century City, Cavendish, Tyger Valley, Sandton, Eastgate, Cresta, Clearwater, Fourways, Menlyn, Mall of Africa, Centurion, Mall of the North Polokwane, Gateway, Pavilion, and I’langa (MP). After donating, consumers will receive a voucher for 20% off a new pair of Levi’s® jeans, redeemable at any Levi’s® store. By donating your pre-loved jeans, you are helping create a more circular economy and a sustainable fashion future.
For more information about the initiative visit www.levi.co.za/blog and follow @levis_southafrica on Instagram and @Levi’s on Facebook, as well as #DoGoodFeelGood.
Stay up to date with the work being done at Clothes to Good by visiting www.clothestogood.com.
