Sustainability Series: Denimolite – LSBU Student Project
Published 29th July 2025
Transforming denim waste into sustainable innovation
Denim jeans are a staple of everyday life but what do we really know about how they’re made, what happens to them when they’re no longer worn, and the environmental impact they leave behind?
We explore Denimolite, an exciting, sustainable innovation developed by designer Josh Myers. It’s ideal for teachers looking to bring real-world design and sustainability examples into the classroom and perfect for sparking discussion and inspiring the next generation of designers.
The problem with denim
Denim is traditionally made from cotton, but many modern garments include synthetic fibres like polyester or elastane, which shed microplastics when washed or worn. Its famous blue colour comes from a water-intensive indigo dyeing process, which also contributes to water pollution. Add to this the production waste and the challenge of recycling stretch denim, and it’s clear that denim has a significant environmental footprint.
What is Denimolite?
Denimolite is a high-grade upcycled denim composite, designed to give new life to denim waste. It transforms unwanted clothing from second-hand markets and the fashion industry into a durable material with visual appeal, using a plant-based bio-resin made from co-products of other industries.
Denimolite’s innovative approach tackles textile pollution and offers a sustainable solution for one of the hardest materials to recycle: stretch denim. It’s an inspiring example of circular design thinking in action.
Meet the designer
From rural Cumbria to London South Bank University, Josh Myers turned lockdown experimentation into sustainable innovation. Inspired by his father's work in prosthetics and driven by a passion for responsible design, Josh created Denimolite through hundreds of hours of trial and error. His journey is a powerful story of resilience, creativity and environmental commitment.
Tested for impact
Denimolite is more than a concept, it’s been rigorously tested for durability, including tensile, compression and point-loading trials. These assessments show just how versatile and strong the material is, opening up exciting possibilities for future use across a range of industries.
Why this matters in the classroom
Denimolite is an excellent example of real-world design and technology tackling sustainability. Whether it’s linked to textiles, materials, product design or environmental challenges, this story offers rich discussion opportunities for lessons, projects or careers guidance.
Bring more sustainability into your teaching with Inspired by Industry
If you're looking to continue the conversation on sustainability, why not explore ‘Inspired by Industry’s’ Fussy context. This free classroom context challenges pupils to 'banish single-use plastic from your bathroom', placing sustainability, ergonomics, product design, branding and manufacturing at the centre of the brief.
Fussy are manufacturers of natural and sustainable body care products, offering a real-world example of environmentally responsible design. The context invites pupils to think critically about product function, visual identity and manufacturing, while also learning key technical knowledge such as CAD, rapid prototyping, ergonomics, modelling and visual communication.
‘Inspired by Industry’ is completely free to access but teachers who are members of the Design & Technology Association will also benefit from exclusive member-only activities and tasks that add even more depth to your delivery.
Explore Inspired by Industry here.
Download the full Denimolite article and explore more
You can download this article as a PDF below to keep or share with your department, and you’ll find more inspiring features like this in our latest issue of Designing: Download and read Designing 128
Listen to Josh’s story in his own words
Hear directly from the mind behind Denimolite in our latest podcast: In conversation with Josh Myers – Founder, Denimolite
