Repurposing unsold inventory

  • Why start from scratch when there’s so much unsold inventory available? This straightforward idea could significantly impact an industry known for its wastefulness. Currently, the norm is to overproduce to maximise sales, then discount unsold goods at the end of each season. This approach is highly inefficient. We believe that by enhancing efficiency and reusing materials, fashion brands can significantly reduce their environmental impact.

  • As denim enthusiasts and former designers, we thought it would be exciting to collaborate with a heritage brand. Lois, founded in 1962, long before our time, was the perfect partner. Denim’s durability and versatility make it a material we adore in every shade and colour. The results of our collaboration truly reflect how much fun we had in the development stages.

  • Of course, new processes come with challenges. We had a wide variety of jeans in different colours and sizes. Our biggest hurdle was creating an ‘algorithm’ to combine all the colours efficiently while maintaining a cool aesthetic.

    At our manufacturing partner Cunha & Ribeiro in Portugal, everyone got involved. We believe in collaborative work, so we included people from management, sales, sample room machinists, and production coordinators. That’s when the magic happens. This approach helped us develop a modular system that used almost all unsold stock, resulting in ‘limited edition’ colour combinations. What was once seen as uncommercial has become a positive feature. Wouldn’t you prefer a virtually unique item over a mass-produced one? We certainly would.

  • To get your hands on these unique pieces, visit loisjean.co.uk. Only a few of each colourway were made, so act fast while supplies last.