“My earliest memories of jeans are seeing my hip young mom wearing (Levi’s) 501s with a vintage baseball jersey,” recalls model and sustainability advocate Amber Valletta, “and lots of cowboys wearing Wranglers around the farm of my grandparents.” Since then, denim has come a long way. While those vintage 501s and Wranglers haven’t left the fashion ether, the evolution of the denim market has been toward stretch—a coup for comfort and fit, but not necessarily for the planet . “To this day, every stretch jean ever made uses crude oil-based plastics,” says Adam Taubenfligel, co-founder and creative director of denim brand Triarchy. Vogue. “The garment sheds microplastics throughout its life and takes over 200 years to degrade, leaching toxins into the soil.”

Founded in 2018, Triarchy, a family business led by Taubenfligel and his siblings, was born from the desire to shake up these norms. Developed in collaboration with their denim factory partner, Triarchy’s proprietary stretch replaces plastic with natural rubber. This innovation ensures that their jeans can be fully biodegraded in less than two years, enriching the soil as they decompose. Valletta, for one, is a fan of the brand’s efforts. “Their approach to creating one of the most popular fashion items is about making it better for both people and the planet.” To raise awareness and showcase its latest styles, Triarchy has partnered with Valletta on an exclusive campaign.

The first connection between Taubenfligel and Valletta was spurred by the Green Fashion Awards in early 2024. At an evening where participants were invited to wear the best sustainable fashion clothing, Triarchy created her stretch denim tuxedo dress. During this first collaboration, Taubenfligel “had the opportunity to discuss the real challenges of building a lasting brand: not just the polished highlights, but also the authentic, often unfiltered moments that make up the journey “, he explained. “Spaces where I feel safe and also vulnerable are rare, and my experience with Amber has reinforced my belief that when you do good work in the world, the right people will find you.”

The latest stage of their ongoing partnership once again features Valletta as model and muse. She’s the face of a cool, understated campaign that speaks to Triarchy’s timeless philosophy. The brand has a sense of timelessness: it names and creates its classic silhouettes in the image of memorable style icons. Starting November 12, Triarchy’s website will also feature “The Amber Valletta Edit,” a selection of the model’s favorite styles.

Valletta, who has posed in denim for everyone from Calvin Klein to Annie Leibovitz, certainly knows a thing or two about finding the right fit. “I’m still a high-waisted kind of girl,” she says, “(It’s important to) give a nice butt!” Her edit for Triarchy includes the brand’s Onassis, Fonda and Keaton jeans in a variety of responsible washes, from off-white to mid-indigo and dark denim. “My favorite Triarchy jeans are the high-waisted, slightly stretchy, wide-leg Onassis jeans,” she says, “I like them in black and dark blue.”

Aside from the iconic image and denim expertise, it’s Valletta’s commitment to and promotion of sustainability that makes her a muse of the moment. “Building a brand like Triarchy requires dedication to a long, intentional journey, and Valletta’s recognition of this commitment, along with their enthusiasm to partner with us on this campaign, is a testament to the power of working with those who sincerely believe in a better way. moving forward,” Taubenfligel said of the partnership. Find out more and shop the full collection, as well as Valletta’s selection, at Triarchy.com.