Japanese stores set to sell fashion goods, artworks made from old Levi’s jeans

More than 50 Japanese companies have transformed discarded used Levi’s 501 jeans into 150 fashion items, including bags and shoes, to help reduce the mountains of old clothing wastes.

The recycled goods will be available on March 23 at six stores, including the Isetan Shinjuku store in Tokyo, Hankyu Department Store’s main outlet in Osaka’s Umeda district, and Iwataya’s main shop in Fukuoka.

The project started after Tokyo-based Yamasawa Press bought about 20 tons of used denim jeans.

Shota Kamiya, a 35-year-old buyer at the Isetan Shinjuku store called on other department store operators and apparel brands to join the cause.

Project members intend to use about 10 tons of the used Levi's jeans to produce recycled items.