Vietnam-based Saitex Mill announced this week that it’s now a Bluesign System Partner, following in the footsteps of Saitex Laundry, which became the program’s first denim laundry partner more than a decade ago.
Led by Sanjeev Bahl, the certified B Corp has become a global leader in green denim production, employing innovative processes designed to conserve water and limit the adverse impacts of the notoriously toxic and wasteful denim production process. Founded in 2001, Saitex’s Vietnam facilities are complemented by an outpost in Los Angeles, with both locations employing closed-loop water systems, energy-efficient processes and clean chemistry with an eye toward cutting carbon emissions.
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Dondup Joins Bluesign Denim Initiative to Boost Sustainability
The verticalized manufacturer, which works with brands like Everlane and J.Crew, bolsters Bluesign’s growing Denim Initiative, which aims to pull together players across the denim sector to create safer products for consumers and the environment. According to Bluesign CEO Daniel Rüfenacht, the ten-year-plus partnership is “are making significant strides toward reducing the global environmental impact of denim production.”
Rüfenacht said brands can now source Bluesign-approved denim fabrics from Saitex Mill, and with both the mill and laundry system approved as partners, they can label their garments as Bluesign Denim, “ensuring a fully compliant and sustainable production process under one roof.”
Bahl said Saitex Mill’s approval as a Bluesign System Partner represents “another step in reinforcing our mission of sustainability, transparency, and responsibility.”
“With Bluesign, we’re not just setting a new standard for responsible denim manufacturing; we’re driving a broader movement toward clean chemistry,” he added. “This is about creating a system that’s safe for people and the planet—putting the human side of manufacturing at the center of everything we do. It’s our responsibility to ensure that our processes are as clean as they are efficient.”
The partnership also reaffirms Saitex’s commitment to eco-friendly production practices and the increasingly important objectives of providing transparency and traceability throughout a garment’s lifecycle, he added.
Saitex Mill was opened just two years ago in Ho Chi Minh City, amassing capabilities for spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing in one facility. According to the firm, the location’s closed-loop water system, which minimizes freshwater intake by recycling water used during production, will be completed in 2025.