Denims have always had a bad reputation entailing them. They are responsible for environmental degradation and climate change. The reason why your beloved and seemingly innocuous jeans on racks gained a notorious repute is attributed to the dye that suffuses color: indigo. The indigo dye that imparts your favorite shade of blue to jeans is the culprit. Most dyes are synthetically processed and like every other “man-made” trophy contributes a slice of horrific repercussions that scathes the environment. The synthetic dyes are produced from petroleum which is the core ingredient and undergoes a set of chemical processes. “It takes over half a pound of cyanide to make a single pound of indigo”, says Sarah Bellos in an interview with a leading website.

The alternative: Promoting the use of natural dyes. The only reason why natural dyes were not being used previously to imbue colors was that their productions are largely dependent on the changing seasons. Also, an inconsistency is observed in the shades of natural indigo which large companies disapproved of.

Formerly, Sarah used to run a small supply chain of printing designs on tees which eventually propelled her career into the dying business. The fashion designer turned entrepreneur took an initiative to establish Stony Creek in 2012. The company’s bottom line is to churn out ecofriendly indigo dyes for the masses. This turned out to be a path breaking innovation and portrays an unprecedented future for the denim industry.

With this, Bellos is also lending a helping hand to the cash crop farmers whose occupation had taken a backseat attributing to the dwindling tobacco market. Stony Creek grows its cash crop and tends the soil offseason to ensure a good health for the next batch of indigo farming. ”Something can be plant based and still industrial,” explains Bello. With such an innovative and lucrative harvest, the future looks promisingly sustainable.