From Bruce Springsteen to Britney Spears, cultural icons have been donning denim for almost 150 years. But it's high time we addressed the material's environmental impact

From a fabric known as Serge de Nîmes (twill from Nîmes) or Bleu de Nîmes (blue from Nîmes), via a US patent for a pair of work trousers by Jacob Davis and one Levi Strauss in 1873, and its introduction to the catwalk by Calvin Klein in the 1970s, the humble denim has come a long way. Now a staple of everyday wear and high fashion alike, jeans' status as a wardrobe item for pretty much everyone seems unlikely to be under threat any time soon. But denim's impact on the environment is something that can – and should – change.