Solidarity Selvedge: Denim with a cause

Solidarity Selvedge: Denim with a cause

The Solidarity Selvedge project is a Turkish-Dutch collaboration with an aim to set up an exchange program that connects the disaster-stricken Turkish textile community with Amsterdam’s denim network.

“Following the disastrous earthquake in Anatolia, our first concern was to help people with food, shelter and medicine. However, as our scope turns to repair and rebuild, we wondered how we could show our solidarity on a longer term.”

House of Denim Foundation, Denim City, Jean School and Denim Deal partners have come together to establish Solidarity Selvedge to help collect donations for Turkey and Syria earthquake victims These regions have been the heart of textile production and denim fabric manufacture for decades.

The project aims to raise funds for an annual exchange program that brings together textile students from the earthquake area with students from Jean School and the House of Denim Incubator program. House of Denim will host the group of Turkish students at Denim City Amsterdam and provide a tailor
made program.

In close collaboration with all partners, a limited series of selvedge jeans were created, which will be sold to raise money for funding the exchange. Jean School students designed the fit and House of Denim incubator talents created a unique ‘Richter Scale Tremor’ design, which is disguised as a stitching in the back pocket.

“This subtle, yet iconic design refers both to the earthquake’s tremor and to a heartbeat, symbolizing. the impact we hope to make with this new connection.”
After the immediate emergency, we should focus on rebuilding the youth perspective: shaping a future, keeping hope, and developing a career in the denim industry. Together with locale textile & fashion academies, the Kingpins & House of denim community, and the Denim Deal’s NL-Tur industry partnership, we will set up an education & exchange program to connect young makers from Turkey and their contemporaries in Amsterdam.

All proceeds from the Solidarity Selvedge project will be used towards the exchange & education program for young professionals.