Less washing, more wearing: That's kind of the dream when it comes to jeans. American Eagle is delivering on that dream: Its latest denim collection is comprised of pairs that contain recycled coffee grounds. The scent-neutralizing powers of ground-up java means these jeans necessitate fewer trips to the laundromat.
The coffee-filled collection, dubbed Denim X Café for women and Denim Flex Café for men, hits stores on October 15; prices will range from $49.95 to $54.95. But Hilary Duff and Vanessa Hudgens got to don the jeans yesterday for National Coffee Day.
"The coffee grounds work to absorb odors and are fast-drying, which results in odor control," Helen Kang, American Eagle's senior director of design, told Refinery29. There isn't an exact window of time you can go between throwing these jeans in the machine, so you'll just have to use your best judgement. "You can wear them until you feel the need to wash them," Kang says. Besides the magical wash-reducing powers of adding beans to your jeans, they'll even protect you from the sun. "The coffee grounds have microscopic pores that reflect UV rays, thereby providing UV protection," Kang says.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
Old beans have been blended into clothing before: In 2009, an (unfortunately named) activewear brand, Virus, came out with a "Coffee Charcoal" collection of heat-retaining leggings, tops, and skullcaps made from coffee grounds. A Taiwanese textile firm, Singtex Industrial Company, has also produced a workout gear line, S.Cafe, made from the stuff you usually toss after your morning cup of Joe.
Not a big fan of brew but dig the idea of skipping a few extra washes? Don't worry, the coffee grounds are stripped of phenols, oils, and esters, so the jeans don't actually smell like coffee — which may be a bummer for hardcore caffeine addicts out there, but there are plenty of other ways to get your fix.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT