Finding a pair of vintage Levi’s 501 jeans is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Notoriously difficult to find, the iconic denim has long been on the wish lists of fashion-lovers across the globe thanks to the fact that they’re the perfect cut in the perfect wash. And they last forever. There’s good news if you’ve been on the hunt, as Levi’s has just revealed new technology that can replicate the look of vintage denim in your exact size in 60 minutes.
Fashionista was privy to the unveiling of the technology, called Project F.L.X., overnight in Los Angeles and described it as being able to “turn distressing patterns into digital files and program lasers to place them on denim in a matter of seconds.” And whilst the process itself is seriously impressive, it’s even more so when you consider that there’s a considerable sustainability to it. “Through the app, Levi’s can render images of new jean styles to exact specifications without actually producing them, and the significant reduction in chemicals used means a significantly smaller environmental impact,” the site explains. Plus, manually distressing jeans to get the vintage faded look takes a lot of manpower and chemicals, so having a laser do the work cuts out that bad-for-the-environment factor, too.
According to the brand, the Customisation Studio concept will be available in-store to consumers from spring 2019.
This isn’t the brand’s first foray into fusing technology with fashion. See why it won the Wearble Tech Innovation Award at this year’s SXSW festival.
