Dress Code: Denim

In the spirit of championing better clothes and better choices for a more sustainable future of fashion, we speak to the stars of our latest Levi’s Choose Better campaign to discover how they make conscious fashion choices, as well as their tips to take your denim through the ages.

Helena Vestergaard
Mother, nature enthusiast, model

How has motherhood changed the way you see fashion?
I think being a mother gives you a whole lot of other things to be thinking about than if your purse matches your shoes kind of thing. We can buy things that the next generation can wear after us - things that will last and aren’t made for us to wear just once or twice. 

What do you look for when it comes to buying for your wardrobe?
Oh my gosh, I have had some of my jeans for literally a decade! I think having staple pieces in your wardrobe is essential. You need a good pair of jeans that will last the test of time. Denim never has, and I doubt ever will, go out of fashion as it's not a trend, but a style. I love jeans because you can dress them up or down so easily. You chuck a t-shirt on and you're casual, maybe a shirt and heels and you're work chic, or even a little dressy cami and some boots and you're ready for a night out, they're so easy and simple to rework and restyle.

Bruna Lapinskas
Environmentally conscious model

What materials and production methods do you look for? 
I always look for natural fibres and more sustainable materials like organic cotton, linen and Tencel.

What can you share to help inspire others to make better choices when it comes to clothing? 
I believe it's being smart and conscious about what you're buying and it's not about quantity. It's about quality.

What makes denim a more sustainable choice? 
Denim will be a part of the sustainable future of fashion because it's timeless. It's for everybody, every shape, every age, every gender, every class, and I think this is what sustainable fashion is about.

Sara Meiklejohn
Gamilaroi, Bidjara Woman, student, model

How important is it for you to wear organic materials?
I believe what's good for the land and environment is also good for myself. 

What do you prioritise in the fabrics you wear?
A lot of the clothes I wear are either hand me downs or op-shop finds, so when I do search for new fabrics, I look for natural materials such as linen, cotton, hemp, and bamboo. I also love finding clothes made using recycled materials and handmade items from small businesses.

How can we make better choices to protect the land and our natural resources? 
I think the number one way to protect the land is to be in relationship with it. Connect with it and see it as something that is connected to you like family. Learn about the traditional land that you stand on and its history. I believe that when you are in relationship with the land, you begin to naturally gravitate towards making more eco-friendly choices. Also, do your research to make sure you're not supporting companies that frack, steal, destroy, and exploit our natural resources and how you can best support the many Indigenous communities on the front lines fighting to protect them.

What do you hope to see for the future of fashion?
For the future of fashion, I'd personally love to see more sustainable pieces that celebrate natural elements.

Roman Jody
Designer, creative, model

What's important to you when it comes to buying for your wardrobe?
Function and comfort are very important for me. 

What makes denim timeless?
There are styles of denim that have come and gone as trends over time. But denim itself has remained a constant. I have a collection of vintage Levi's actually. I love vintage Levi's, particularly 501s and 505s because they're just so soft. They've already been broken in and they're just so well constructed as a garment. There's also nothing quite like a denim wash that's been faded or evolved over the years of wear. The level of influence that denim has had on the industry and the world on pop culture and cultural uniforms is massive.

How do you give your clothes new life? 
I've always drawn and painted, but applying that to a garment that was a one-off was a way for me to give my clothing a new life. And it's also a representation of myself and who I am at that time and my experiences.

What tips do you have to help others choose better?
It’s quality over quantity. There's a reason that these garments have lasted so long. 

Spencer Dezart-Smith
Parent, software engineer

How has parenthood reframed your perspective on consumption? 
Parenthood has actually just made me ultra aware of consumption. 

Kelly Dezart-Smith
Parent, events curator & producer

What’s important to you when it comes to buying for your wardrobe?
When I'm buying for my wardrobe, I like to buy pieces I know will last. I like to imagine what it would be like in 10 or 15 years to have my son Alexis ask to borrow pieces of my wardrobe.

What makes denim timeless?
I think denim holds memories, and that's what makes it so special. When I think of a piece of denim, I think of moments. I think when you look at a pair of jeans, you see that night out with your friends, you see that birthday party, you see that beautiful dinner.

If your jeans could talk, what stories would you want them to share with Lexi?
I would want my jeans to tell my child that his dad loved a good time. His dad loved a glass of wine. His dad loved an oyster. I want the jeans to let my son know that I've lived the fullest life I could.