Denim Forward, Inc (DenimFWD) has opened the world’s first 'Urban Factory' in California, the US, which it claims to be a digital, on-demand, production factory developed to contribute towards the return of textile production in the US.

The denim mill has teamed up with eco-friendly firm Jeanologia to integrate the company's technology into its production model, which is intended to serve as an on-demand, close-to-consumer service that is "fully sustainable, digital, and automated."

According to its release, DenimFWD plans to bring back 15 to 25% of manufacturing production to the United States, which called itself the world's first "Urban Factory." It hopes that by doing so, it will kick start the reindustrialization process that the textile industry so desperately needs.

Carlos Arias, CEO at DenimFWD, explains that the company is dedicated to "new technologies" that enable 100 percent sustainable on-demand production near to the consumer, digitalizing the entire process and improving processes and products while saving money and shortening time-to-market. With their Urban Factory, a consumer will choose a product, and that thing will be finished and delivered that same day, eliminating stock.

It believes that its collaboration with Jeanologia will spread throughout the apparel industry, encouraging other brands to incorporate sustainable and digital production processes into their business models. It also aligns with the tech company's goal of eliminating 100% of discharge and pollution from jeans around the world.

Jeanologia technologies implemented into the Urban Factory include G2 Ozone, e-Flow, SmartBox, ColorBox, EIM (software for measuring environmental impact), and H2Zero (the first water treatment and recycling system said to produce zero discharge without extra costs).

Urban Factory will also be home to the first active Handman in the United States, enabling automation between humans and robots to aid in achieving agile, clean, and scalable production.

DenimFWD claims that its process reduces delivery times and can produce up to 5,000 jeans and 4,000 T-shirts a day sustainably and efficiently. It also listed five advantages it brings to the textile industry: eco-efficiency, scalability, agility, digital methods, and a neutral cost.

Enrique Silla, CEO at Jeanologia, said that they’re convinced that a new production model is possible. That is why they have partnered with companies from their industry, such as DenimFWD, that share their values and objectives, such as Mission Zero, to eliminate 100 percent of discharge and pollution from jeans around the world.

Silla added that Urban Factory is the culmination of their work over the last few years and their contribution to the jeans industry in turning it into a case study that can be applied to the rest of the garments manufacturing industry, ushering in a new era with completely sustainable and digital production.