Una Pluma Denim
Dreams come true in natural dyes and non-toxic stone washes
Elana here! Designer and owner of Una Pluma.
For years, my outfits have been made up of Una Pluma—everything except my jeans. The denim industry is famously toxic and hard on our planet, and it’s been a longtime dream of mine to produce non-toxic denim, starting with the perfect pair of jeans.
I am overjoyed to launch Una Pluma Denim, made with a great deal of persistence, innovation, and collaboration. Scroll through to learn about the production process for our non-toxic denim, or start shopping for soft, gorgeous denim that will last a lifetime.
Impossible!
In the beginning, we were told it was impossible—a lot. Most washing houses (in Nepal, where we produce, and globally) use toxic chemicals to create stone wash effects without the stones. Mining natural pumice stones is tough on the planet and the stones crumble quickly to dust, mixing with chemical dyes to create a toxic sludge.
Early experiments in denim.
Dreaming and scheming
Fortunately, Una Pluma tends to unite dreamers and schemers dedicated to making the world a better place. I got connected with with the incredible Beyza, based in Turkey, whose company Hand Made Stone is innovating sustainable washing stones made of upcycled pumice dust.
Composite stones are usable for over 50 washes and leave no residue, drastically reducing water usage.
We start with about 30 minutes of tumbling with Beyza’s upcycled stones. Longer tumbles yield lighter washes.
Community building
The next step was to find a washing house in Kathmandu that was open to non-toxic experimentation. We got lucky with a washing house manager with non-toxic dreams of his own, and were delighted by the results—and colors—our collaboration yielded!
Our washing house manager hopes to integrate a water treatment plant to decrease pollution—rare in Nepal.
Introducing Numero Uno
We’re proud of our denim jeans—dubbed Número Uno—and consider them the perfect staple. Mid-weight and soft, these jeans (and their matching jacket) were crafted with an eye on the details.
The Denim Home Collection
Elevate your space with sustainably made, high-quality pieces featuring thoughtful shapes and fun fringe.
As always, we continue to innovate. Stay tuned for the latest and greatest in non-toxic denim. And thanks for being here!
