When it comes to curating your wardrobe, no collection is complete without the perfect pair of blue jeans. Denim is popular for its versatility and is always on trend, but how sustainable is it? Unfortunately, a single pair of jeans requires close to 4,000 litres of water to make and is linked to excessive use of dyes and pesticides. Worry not, with secondhand shopping more popular than ever, vintage resellers that specialize in denim take all the guesswork out of buying denim, whether it’s resold or reworked. —Vicki Duong

today denim. A passion project by two best friends living on Vancouver Island, Today Denim is focused on aesthetics without sacrificing ethics. Whether it’s custom-built jackets or jeans, the duo repurchases vintage and thrifted textiles to create tailored pieces guaranteed to be a conversation starter. Their newest addition to their lineup is a collection of rebuilt denim sun and bucket hats!

r denim. One of the best things about buying vintage denim is that jeans aren’t made the way they used to be. Vintage denim has already lasted at least one lifecycle of use, meaning that they’re built to last, so you can rest assured that buying secondhand is buying quality. One of our fave vintage denim resellers is R Denim based in Vancouver. Popping up at various markets in the Lower Mainland and available online, R Denim offers a variety of sizes, washes and fits combined with educational info on all things jean.

kslam clothing. A more modern take on denim, KSLAM Clothing is an inclusive made-to-order brand based out of Vancouver. Along with a seasonal collection, KSLAM also offers a collection of reworked denim popular with stars like Madison Beer and Noah Cyrus. One of our favourite pieces is the Confide Corset, made from 100 per cent cotton vintage denim.

re/done. Perfect for anyone who loves their Levi’s, RE/DONE is a denim lover’s dream come true and offers a wide variety of vintage Levi’s. Each pair is taken apart at the seams to be repurposed into new jeans with a modern update. Plus, every upcycled pair is redone in the U.S. with no additional water used!