Ring x Ring Denim – & its Role in the Circular Economy – for a Sustainable Future.
Ring x Ring, or dual ring spun, is the traditional method for producing denim which uses ring spun yarn both for warp and weft – and is created by rolling rather than pressing the fibres into shape. It has an uneven look and feel (slub) that is considered more valuable and unique than open-ended yarn, and it also combines properties of a soft, silk like hand with sheer strength and durability. These qualities, together with its characterful slub, mean that Ring x Ring lends itself well to ageing – almost like a fine wood bark.
And yet, as is often with traditional craft, Ring x Ring is a rarity in today’s marketplace, found only in the uppermost echelons of premium denim.
And so, it is somewhere between, on the one hand, the throes of a denim wear industry beset by an urgent need to recalibrate to the new eco-norm, and - on the other - this old time honoured love for the tinctured, motley grain of dual ring spun denim – that I see a surfeit of inspiration for 2024, and beyond.
