Trace the life cycle of a pair of denim jeans, and discover the labor and environmental costs of this fashion staple.

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The first pairs of jeans were designed for durability; denim was constructed as a sturdy weave worn by sailors and miners. But over the course of the 20th century, as the demand for jeans has gone up, their durability has gone down. Today, most pairs last no longer than a year. And each new pair you buy has a much higher cost than you might think. Madhavi Venkatesan traces the life cycle of jeans.

Lesson by Madhavi Venkatesan, directed by Sofia Pashaei.

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View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-pair-of-jeans-madhavi-venkatesan
Dig deeper with additional resources: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/the-life-cycle-of-a-pair-of-jeans-madhavi-venkatesan#digdeeper

Animator's website: https://www.sofiapashaei.com
Music: https://www.campstudio.co
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