The World’s First Zero-Waste Banana Denim Collection Just Hit The Runway

When it comes to sustainability in the fashion industry, denim doesn’t have the best reputation. Known for its massive water consumption and synthetic chemical use, the textile has one of the biggest carbon footprints out there – with its manufacture causing huge levels of dye-derived chemical pollution in local waters and high greenhouse gas emissions. 

It makes most fashion brands looking to cut their carbon footprint understandably wary of using denim in the collections. But things are looking up. British label DEPLOY has just unveiled its latest 360 Sustainability Collection, featuring a first-ever denim capsule created using banana fibre from agricultural waste developed by material innovator 29acacia. Here’s everything you need to know about the collection – and how it’s shaking up the fashion industry.

DEPLOY Teams Up With 29acacia On Banana Denim Collection

Last week, fashion insiders and EU policy partners gathered at the UK Ambassador’s Residence in Brussels to see a first-of-its-kind catwalk take place. Organised to spotlight how circular innovation in the UK is being delivered in practice ahead of the Government’s publication of the Circular Economy Growth Plan, the show was led by British flagship sustainable brand DEPLOY.

The show was understandably a huge moment for the brand – not just for the location and occasion, but also for the content of its latest collection. Working with material innovator 29acacia, DEPLOY debuted its first ever denim capsule. Or rather, banana denim capsule.

DEPLOY is one of the world’s earliest ethical fashion brands, and has spent the last two decades reforming fashion and championing zero-waste in its clothing. Operating via a 360° Sustainability Compass – in which equal care is given to wearer, maker, communities and the environment – put in place by founder Dr. Bernice Pan, the label also holds the title of the highest scoring fashion B Corp in the world, with a score of 176.8.

The label has, understandably, avoided using denim in its collections – until now. DEPLOY and 29acacia (previously Fiiba) crossed paths during Country & Town House’s Future Icons Awards 2025 summit, when they jointly won Best Fashion & Accessories Zero Waste Initiative. Since then, they’ve been working behind the scenes to bring this new material innovation to life. 

‘This DEPLOY x 29acacia collaboration capsule marks the first denim use in DEPLOY’s 20-year history, made possible by 29acacia’s game-changing banana-waste innovation, bringing denim into alignment with our strict 360 Sustainability framework,’ says Claudia Simms Abram, chief brand officer at DEPLOY. ‘This partnership is particularly meaningful as it was sparked by our joint win at the Country & Town House Future Icons Awards; we’re so proud to be creating a momentous world-first in sustainable fashion together.’

The textile in question – known as banana-denim – was made from agricultural banana waste, transforming banana tree trunks (usually discarded and burned) into spinnable yarn. An alternative to traditional denim production, banana-denim uses much less water and has a much smaller carbon footprint – and even helps raise low income farmers out of poverty by buying their waste. 

The tools used to spin the yarn have also been engineered for industrial-scale production, meaning that banana-denim works with already established manufacturing and pricing systems within the fashion industry. It’s a circular solution to a long-term fashion problem – and it’s about to change the game for good.

Speaking on the topic, DEPLOY founder Dr. Bernice Pan notes how the collaboration ‘marks the world debut of this fibre-to-fashion regenerative innovation – demonstrating how circular economy policies is turned into commercial opportunities, and that care and creativity built into business core can truly benefit people who wear, make and the planet who affords us the resources to grow and flourish into the future.’

‘29acacia exists to drive a revolution in the way that we source textiles across the globe, in fashion and beyond,’ adds Sarah Angold, CEO of 29acacia. ‘Working with creative pioneers like DEPLOY, whose clever designs make the most of every inch of material, has only served to amplify the impact that our materials can have. 

‘Plus – and this is important – the DEPLOY team is bloody good fun. I think you can see the joy in the collection we’ve made, and I hope that when our customers put on their meticulously crafted, ultra sustainable pieces, they will feel it too.’

The collection isn’t just made good, it looks good too. Precision-cut silhouettes, luxurious softness, architectural tailoring and fluid drapery are key style markers of the collection – with banana-denim jumpsuits, double-breasted shirting and sweeping coat dresses (that break apart into a jacket and skirt) making sustainability look its chicest yet.

‘Our iconic zero-waste capsule closes the circular design loop from fibre to fashion, whilst elevating the utilitarian fabric into couture-level garments of power & purpose,’ adds Claudia, who adds that the brand will be releasing its groundbreaking collection sooner than expected: ‘Pre-order is now available.’

SHOP

The DEPLOY x 29acacia collection will be available to shop this March. deployworkshop.com