The capsule collection features four pieces including a kimono, shorts and a bustier made entirely from vintage Levi’s denim.

Naomi Osaka has launched a brand-new sustainable denim collection made using only upcycled fabrics.

 The tennis champion – who also champions social change and mental health –  collaborated with  Levi’s for the new limited-edition capsule.

It features four pieces made from repurposed and vintage denim from the brand’s deadstock.

The Levi’s x Naomi Osaka collection includes a denim kimono that pays homage to Osaka’s Japanese heritage, paired with a matching denim obi belt. The lace-up shorts and crystal fringe shorts are repurposed from the brand’s men’s jeans, whereas the trucker jacket bustiers are crafted from reworked trucker hats and have stylish flap pockets and shank buttons.

All the pieces reflect Osaka’s personal style and also score on sustainability, which is ‘super important’ to the four-time Grand Slam singles champion.

“And I love that every piece in the collection has been recycled or repurposed from old stock,” she said in a statement.

Impact of textile on the planet

The fashion industry is considered the third-largest polluter in the world behind construction and food.

 According to the report released by the World Economic Forum, the fashion industry accounts for about 5% of global emissions.

The UN pegs the industry for about 20% of water pollution worldwide.

Rising fast fashion has made consumers view cheap clothing items as perishable goods that are ‘nearly disposable’.

 An estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles are dumped in landfills each year and can take over 200 years to decompose. These stats only compound environmental issues, which is why popular brands like Levi’s releasing sustainable collections is commendable.

The ready-to-wear collection in upcycled denim, which not only helps reduce landfill waste and the pollution associated with its disposal also helps the environment by reducing the impact associated with the production of new denim.

The collection is priced between $150 and $380 and is set to officially drop on 24 August.  It will be available to order on Levis.com.

Levi’s leather fetish

 While the Osaka collection is Levi’s latest move to become more sustainable, it has faced criticism for its continued use of leather patches.

Earlier this year, the San Francisco-based label got a ‘dressing down’ in its virtual annual meeting from animal rights organization PETA.

 The vegan charity bought shares in Levi’s in 2019 and continues to call for the brand to switch to using vegan leather.

 According to PETA, Levi’s which claims that “getting dressed shouldn’t feel like a moral dilemma,” is still putting leather patches on some of its denim—despite knowing that cows are beaten, slaughtered, and skinned by the leather industry.

Leather production is not only ‘unacceptable’, but a leading contributor to climate change, PETA stated.

Is Naomi Osaka vegan?

Although the 23-year-old tennis star is not a vegan, she does advocate healthy eating and emphasizes including as much fresh and organic food as possible.

Reports claim that she regularly consumes what is described to be a ‘rainbow bowl’ – a bowl of food containing fruits and veggies that make up all the colours of the rainbow. This concept is thought to be the easiest way to make sure that your body is getting all the nutrients and minerals it needs to stay healthy.

The athlete is also known to prefer vegetable and fruit smoothies made from coconuts, berries, greens among other things to keep her energy levels high and remain hydrated during tournaments and workouts.

Next month, Osaka is set to co-host the 2021 Met Gala, which for the first time in its history will serve an all-vegan menu crafted by 10 popular New York-based chefs and Instagram influencers.

Chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson, who roped in the 10 chefs told Bon Appétit: “They represent what the food scene in New York today looks like. What the next generation of food looks like, tastes like, where it lives.

“We thought it was important to really talk about what’s present, what’s happening—how food is changing in America

“We want to be the future of American food, of plant-based food. That conversation is happening now.”

• Read: Catherine Zeta-Jones launches vegan sneakers with British footwear brand

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