Woman Grows Jeans
Available screening types
Virtual
In-person
Available until
Jun 13, 2026
Speakers Available
Available in
Worldwide
About the film
In the industrial heartland of British textiles, a community sets out to do something unprecedented - grow jeans from scratch. With hopes of helping regenerate harmful fashion systems, they begin planting flax and indigo, spinning yarn, and weaving cloth. When the dream of bringing them to market falters, the challenge of creating a prototype is taken on by Justine Aldersey-Williams, transforming the experiment into a personal rite of passage. What unfolds is a tender, radical act of reconnection: to land, lineage, lost skills, and the ‘more-than-human’ world. Woman Grows Jeans explores what it really means to rewild our world, our wardrobes and ourselves. At once a protest and a prayer, this is slow fashion as provocation - sown by hand, infused with love, and stitched with hope. For anyone who’s ever wondered if a different future is possible, this pioneering story shows that the power to create change is still in our hands.
Genre
Documentary
Runtime
0h 50m
Released
2025
Director
Justine Aldersey-Williams
Producer
Perelandra Beedles
Executive Producer
Nick Beedles
Cast
Anthony Green, Ali Sharman, Betty Beedles, Carole Bowman, Charlie Mallon, Chelsea Canovas, BBC Countryfile Team, Helen Keys, Homegrown Homespun volunteers, Jane McCann, Jenni Jones, Justine Aldersey-Williams, Kirsty Leadbetter, Laurie Peake, Mark Palmer, Mohsin Sajid, Patrick Grant, Perelandra Beedles, Simon Cooper, The Wild Dyery students
Upcoming screenings
What people are saying
‘It's incredible, to see woad and flax - plants native to the Northern England Fibershed's ecosystem, transformed by community, and the passion and talent of Justine into the most functional and necessary garment. She weaves her clothes and her community into this materially and spiritually transformative project.‘
Rebecca Burgess
Author of Harvesting Color/M.ed Place Based Education/Founder and Director of Fibershed
‘This film is important viewing for anyone who cares about making textiles truly sustainable. Where fibres and dyes come from and what their production entails is so often left out of the conversation, and 'Woman Grows Jeans' shines a light on those often forgotten about processes. A powerful story of perseverance, interconnectedness, and most importantly, hope. Justine's achievement of growing the UK's first fully local pair of jeans sketches out a map for where the textile ecosystem must go if we want any chance of a liveable future. And it's a joyful future too! A future where we can thrive by reconnecting with our clothes, our communities and the more-than-human siblings we share this planet with.‘
Malú Colorín
Fibreshed Ireland
‘A wonderful and honest story of dedication, conveying a very important message for us all.‘
Jenny Balfour-Paul
Author, Artist, Curator and Honorary Research Fellow at Exeter University
‘This project is incredibly inspirational! Justine’s odyssey into making her own jeans and sharing the whole process is pivotal for a global, in-context understanding of what is at stake, what we lost and what we need to restore.‘
Julia Tabakhova
NÄTTLA
‘It’s a wonderful film, identifying the love and passion that has driven Justine to bring this to our attention. Beautifully filmed, just love it.‘
Mark Palmer
Director Systems4food Ltd, Advisor Soil Association Exchange, Member DEFRA EGOP, Inspector Soil Association Cert Ltd, Director Homegrown Colour Ltd & Northern England Fibreshed
‘A thought-provoking documentary, told in a very touching and personal way. A testament of one woman's determination to breakthrough barriers and bring critical environmental concerns to the attention of a much wider audience. Brilliant!‘
Fiona Duckers
Concept to Delivery Ltd.
‘Wonderful film. Inspiring and moving. One woman’s journey revealing so much of what’s been lost. A rediscovering of ancient ways that will no doubt provide stepping stones into a more sustainable future.‘
Jenni Jones
Yoga Instructor
‘A beautiful and thought-provoking film. Justine and her wonderful, caring team are an inspiration to us all!‘
Julie Rowlands
Audience Member
‘When our very life source is dying, we need to feel connected to our Earth Mother if we are to defend and protect her. Your documentary highlights our disconnect and shines a light on solutions, through community, creativity and education. I loved it very much.‘
Jo Smith
Artist
‘This film is a wonderful example of how someone with the imagination, drive and commitment can take an idea from conception through to completion. Growing a pair of jeans is far from an easy task and it needs a team of people, who have knowledge of preindustrial craft in order to make it happen. Things go wrong along the way, but difficulties are overcome. It demonstrates the beauty and value of using materials direct from nature.‘
Veronica Collins
Fibreshed Scotland