BAM 73 Zero Bamboo Jeans Review
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In this review, I put BAM's 73 Zero Denim Jeans to the test – the first fully recyclable jeans made from bamboo and organic cotton. It took them three years to develop to ensure they were not only durable and ready for adventure but also kind to the planet.
Jeans are a wardrobe essential, no matter what way you wear them, denim has, and always is, going to be a good idea.
Seeing how nearly every fashion brand sells jeans these days, I wanted to find the most ethical and planet-friendly ones on the market, which is why I created a shopping guide on the Best Ethical Jeans and Sustainable Denim Brands you can buy in the UK. BAM quickly made it to the top of the list being the only brand to have fully recyclable jeans made from super-renewable bamboo and cotton. It all started with a mission:
"We wanted sustainable jeans that could be fully recycled. We wanted them to be supersoft. And we wanted them to be made for action."
Three years of development later and BAM has created THE powerhouse of sustainable jeans - The 73 Zero:
🧵 A unique blend of bamboo, cotton and elastane
🌱 Organic Content Standard (OCS) Certified
💧 Water-saving - using 74% less water than standard jeans
♻️ Recyclable - no patches or rivets and button unscrews
💪 Durable - tested through 30 x washes
🧘🏽♀️ Flexible - super-soft and up for all adventures
The name references the percentage of clothing that ends up in landfill or is incinerated (73%). BAM wants to change this which is why they wanted fully recyclable jeans (all you need to do is cut out the zip) and developed the jeans in alignment with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Jeans Redesign to be environmentally friendly. The back pocket also features stitching inspired by the graph of the global temperature rise from 2006 to 2020, to illustrate BAM's jeans have a lower impact on the planet.
Unzipping the details
Before we get into my personal review, here's a breakdown of everything else you need to know about 73 Zero Bamboo Jeans:
Styles: There are 4 styles of jeans - skinny and straight for women, and slim and tapered for men. All styles are available in dark blue or black along with a choice of regular or long length.
Cost: They are incredibly reasonably priced at £85 across the board plus free delivery, most other jeans in my ethical jeans shopping guide came quite a way above this. You can also get 10% off using discount code ZEROWASTED.
Manufacturing: All jeans are made up from a mix of organic cotton (73%), bamboo (25%) and elastane (2%). Made in China (SMETA or BSCI audited) using 74% less water than an average pair of jeans (which take 2,000 litres). You'll also find a care and repair label on the inside pocket to help ensure your jeans last longer.
Why bamboo? Bamboo is super sustainable absorbing 5 x more CO2 from the air and releasing 35% more oxygen than trees. It's also incredibly soft, and 3 x more absorbent than cotton, meaning it keeps you feeling fresh, dry and comfortable and able to wear your jeans longer between washes (further reducing your footprint!)
Impact:
- They are on a journey to becoming impact positive for six spheres of impact - carbon, people, chemicals, land, waste and water with a detailed Annual Impact Positive Report
- They're a Certified B Corp - showcasing a strong commitment environmental and social responsibility
- Fair Wear member - for a fairer garment industry
How comfortable are 73 Zero bamboo jeans?
Totally convinced with all the sustainable credentials, it was time to put them to the test. I'm a black denim fanatic, so I was very excited to see they'd only just released black versions of all their jeans - yay!
I'm all for a skinny jean too, but this time I wanted to try something a tad more loose and comfy, for those days where you're lounging and walking the dog, so I went for the Straight Leg Bamboo Jeans. I also like the fact you can roll these up a bit if you want, much like the Tapered Leg Bamboo Jeans for men.
Finally, a comfy pair of jeans that don't dig in and are a perfect, everyday go-to pair.
Initial Thoughts:
Love the shape and design, the colour is a subtle denim black rather than a jet black with a real softness, not rough at all, but still a strong and durable feeling denim.
Fit: I am a small 12 on bottom and went for a size 30 and they fit really well. I could quite possibly get away with a size smaller, as they do have stretch, but for this style and what I want them for, they're perfect. Similar to a 'Mom' style jean, with a high-waist and tapered leg. They are not too tight around the hips or thighs but still have a slim look with the tapered leg so they're definitely not too wide at the bottom which I worry about with 'straight' jeans. These are basically just a slightly looser partner to the skinny jean.
Comfort: For me, these are a 10/10. Honestly, so comfortable. Also, not going to lie, since hitting my thirties I've lost the ironing board stomach of my teenage years, so I've actually had some trouble with some jeans digging in when I sit down, to the point where I've just had to return them (because...who needs to endure that?) But these give me room to breathe even when sat down, without being too big or baggy when I'm standing. They're stretchy, soft black jean magic! ✨
Zero Waste Jeans Packaging
Everything is 100% recyclable or compostable. The delivery bag is made from a durable brown paper with a lovely touch of positive messaging. Inside is an industrially compostable bag which can go in your food waste bin (though they are working on making this home compostable too). The labels are all made from recyclable card - and not forgetting the jeans themselves are 100% recyclable! I also love that BAM have incredibly clear messaging and instructions on their packaging so you know exactly what to do with it.
The best sustainable jeans?
Final thoughts: I took them on a road-test coastal walk with my dog and they passed with flying colours. Warm, resilient and dried quickly (I didn't step back from a wave quick enough! 😅)
The only tiny bug bear I had was the un-screwable button, so make sure it is tightened fully before wearing. Since tightening, mine has stayed put, but have seen that BAM offer to pop a free replacement in the post.
They are my new staple jean as they are just so comfy. I can lounge in these like no other jeans I've owned. I'll very likely get the Skinny Bamboo Jeans too - in black, obvs! 💁♀️
If you're keen to try a pair, BAM have kindly given Zero Wasted readers an exclusive discount code for 10% off with ZEROWASTED. You'll also get free returns and free delivery over £50 spend.
What other people are saying...
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