BlueCycle reduces water use in the finishing process by up to 99%*. Jeans are finished to the same standard of quality with just about a teacup’s worth of water.

Natural pumice is typically used in the denim industry to achieve that classic stone-washed look. However, pumice disintegrates over time, requiring large amounts of water to wash away powdery residue. At UNIQLO, we’re now using ozone-mist washing machines that require very little water and instead use nanobubbles. This advanced technology have significantly reduced the amount of water used in the jeans finishing process, by up to 99%*.

* Data is based on a comparison between Men's Regular Fit Jeans (68 Blue) 2017 and 2018 using technology developed in 2018 by our Jeans Innovation Center. Water savings may vary between products.

OZONE GAS & NANOBUBBLE WASH

We use lasers to create that classic, lived-in look and feel. Laser distressing replaces sandpapering and improves the work environment.

Sandpaper has long been used to create that vintage denim look. Skilled workers would rub the jeans by hand to achieve the perfect fade. The manual labor involved in this intensive process required a heavy effort. UNIQLO has developed a way to complete this process using lasers to distress denim in all the right places. The use of lasers greatly reduces heavy manual labor and makes the work environment a better place for all.

FROM HAND WORK TO MACHINING

LASER DISTRESSING

UNIQLO is working with our denim partners to purify and reuse wastewater generated by the jeans-making process, as well as reducing wastewater volumes overall. We are also proactively evaluating our fabrics and manufacturing processes to promote a more sustainable way to make jeans.