Cotton is the backbone of denim, but its supply is exposed to water scarcity, heatwaves and price spikes, risks Azgard9 itself tracks in its sustainability reporting. In November 2022, Lenzing's Carved in Blue asked Pakistan's mills whether they had a "no cotton denim". Azgard9's answer was yes.
"We have designed a concept named Onyx, a cotton-free and black modal power stretch article," said Mian Farrukh Mehmood, general manager of research and development. Onyx shows that a deep black, high-stretch denim can be built without cotton.
Azgard9 also brings lower-impact fibres into everyday, volume-priced denim. Mian Farrukh Mehmood explained that the mill usually pairs a soft handle from TENCEL™ with Dual FX performance for premium products. For volume orders, it recently replaced a best-selling NOOS (never-out-of-stock) 98/2 fabric with a blend of cotton, TENCEL™, recycled polyester and elastane. "It went well," he said. "It's cost effective with a super soft handle."
On circularity, the team had developed mechanical-stretch articles that use no elastane, relying on another polymer instead, and a shirting fabric based on cotton and REFIBRA™ technology.
Key facts
- DateNovember 2022, Carved in Blue
- Onyxcotton-free, black Modal power-stretch denim
- Volume fabricNOOS 98/2 article re-engineered with cotton, TENCEL™, recycled polyester and elastane
- Circular developmentselastane-free mechanical stretch; cotton + REFIBRA™ shirting
- SpokespersonMian Farrukh Mehmood, GM Research and Development
Bringing responsible fibres into high-volume programmes, not only capsules, is how Azgard9 helps brand partners make a measurable difference.
