Upcycled Earth Day Collection from Rit Dye and Denimcratic

Two designers dedicated to repurposing old apparel have collaborated to create a special line that honors the environment.

Denimcratic, a company dedicated to upcycling denim, and Rit, a household dye best known for being the main ingredient in the tie-dye T-shirts worn at Woodstock in 1969, collaborated on a limited series of recycled denim and knitwear. Rit’s nontoxic dyes are used to color the fabrics.

The line features bandana and butterfly tops, micro mini-skirts, bucket hats, and knit T-shirts with bright, eco-conscious dye effects, which will debut on Earth Day, April 22. On the Denimcratic website, the pair launched a T-shirt made of recycled cotton and organic bamboo with the phrase “Save Mom” on the front to tease the set. The shirt costs $59 at the moment.

During the pandemic, as customers were heavily experimenting with their own tie-dye and denim DIY designs, Denimcratic designer Gabriella Meyer collaborated with Rit’s design team on the line. Both teams were headquartered in Chicago last year, but production was kept local.

The creative director of Rit Dye, Jonathon Spagat said that this Earth Day, it is more important than ever to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability in an industry where there is so much overconsumption and pollution. Gabriella is a real original and a shining example of someone who is dedicated to reducing the fashion industry’s environmental effects. They’re ecstatic to be working with such an environmentally friendly brand that creates some of the best denim and knitwear around.

According to an Adweek report that highlighted some of the company’s tactics for maintaining traction, the pandemic and subsequent tie-dye craze have been a blessing for the once-troubled dye company. It recently collaborated with Reebok on a self-dye sneaker package, which was followed by a DIY top and tote bag kit for Jaden Smith, an actor, and musician.

Denimcratic has a devoted celebrity fanbase, with Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Cardi B among the most well-known supporters. The company sells jeans, shoes, and “ugly tees,” and its designs often have political and social messages. During the 2016 presidential race, it featured many upcycled voting T-shirts, and last year, it made an upcycled denim jacket to express support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Meyer and denim designer Marta Goldschmied collaborated on the “We Wear the Pants” line in 2018, which included a pair of skinny jeans and a matching jean jacket laser printed with nearly 30 news stories about workplace sexual harassment from major U.S. newspapers.