Social Alterations | An Education Lab for Socially Responsible Fashion Design

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LEARN // Human Trafficking and Slavery: Short online course for supply chain transparency

January 23, 2012

LEARN // Human Trafficking and Slavery: Short online course for supply chain transparency

You may already have read about the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act (SB 657) that went into effect on January 1st of this year (2012). There is no question that slavery and human trafficking run rampant in the global textile/apparel industry. Thanks to the University of Delaware and The Cahn Group, a short online course is here to help. “When companies explore the extent of these tragic abuses in their supply chains in depth, what they are likely to find may be revealing and more than a bit sobering.” (Doug Cahn and Marsha Dickson) Risks of Human Trafficking and Slavery: A Short...

Happy New Year!

December 31, 2011

By nadiralamrad

Happy New Year!

With 2012 already here in Hong Kong, here’s a look back at ten of our more popular posts from 2011: Learn// Greenpeace Targets Dove for use of Palm Oil: The true cost of real beauty Nike’s ‘Better World’ will make you want to “puke” Suzanne Lee’s BioCouture grows clothes...

LEARN // California College of the Arts partners with Permacouture Institute for public education series on slow fashion and textiles

December 24, 2011

LEARN // California College of the Arts partners with Permacouture Institute for public education series on slow fashion and textiles

Sasha Duerr, founder of Permacouture Institute and author of The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients, will be teaching a series of courses and workshops at California College of the Arts devoted to slow fashion/textiles and natural dyeing this...

READ // Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change, by Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose

December 24, 2011

READ // Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change, by Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose

Kate Fletcher, author of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys, and Lynda Grose, assistant professor at California College of the Arts, have a new book coming out in April 2012, Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change. With a forward by Paul Hawken, the book is divided into three parts:...

Source, Naturally: Source4Style launches new online platform

December 20, 2011

Source, Naturally: Source4Style launches new online platform

Source4Style (S4S) version 2.0 has officially launched, hosting more than 1,300 materials from over 23 countries. “Our goal is to provide the most cutting-edge tools to facilitate commerce between two groups that are currently disconnected in the global market – the leading sustainable suppliers and the designers looking for...

Social Alterations maps responsible apparel with Google Earth

November 24, 2011

Social Alterations maps responsible apparel with Google Earth

Back in September, with support from Tides Canada, the Google Earth Outreach team selected Social Alterations to join nearly 50 social justice and environmental security organizations from across Canada for a three-day intensive workshop. The specialized training provided insight on how to harness Google Earth and Google Maps to...

Get schooled in ‘Economic Complexity’ with MIT and Harvard

November 24, 2011

Get schooled in ‘Economic Complexity’ with MIT and Harvard

Licensed through the Creative Commons, The Atlas of Economic Complexity: Mapping Paths to Prosperity is a collaborative project that builds visualizations on import/export trade flow of products and goods. Once the visualization is built, learners can scroll their mouse over each category for further details. Click here to read up on the research...

Anti-Slavery International targets European Parliament through Cotton Crimes campaign

November 23, 2011

Anti-Slavery International targets European Parliament through Cotton Crimes campaign

Anti-Slavery International has recently relaunched their Cotton Crimes campaign with a new video. “It is our hope that, through our short video, we will reach out, inform and encourage people to act in the interests of the children of Uzbekistan.” (Samuel Cooper, Anti-Slavery International) Anti-Slavery International is calling on the...

Wage Ladder, new online tool benchmarks living wages for garment workers

November 23, 2011

Wage Ladder, new online tool benchmarks living wages for garment workers

The Fairwear Foundation (FWF) has just launched Wage Ladder, an online tool and resource to assist brands, factories, trade unions and NGOs in their efforts as they work towards establishing and mainstreaming living wages for garment workers. What exactly is a ‘living wage’? Click here to learn about recent...

Fashioning the Future Award winners announced, London

November 23, 2011

Fashioning the Future Award winners announced, London

On November 10th, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF), at London College of Fashion, announced the winners of this year’s Fashioning the Future Awards — themed UNIQUE. Congratulations to Ashley Brock (United States), Sara Emilie Terp Hansen (Denmark), Evelyn Lebis (Sweden), Christian Frank Muller (Germany) Alice Payne (Australia), and...

Responsible Sourcing // The future is bright

November 22, 2011

The challenge of sourcing responsible material is a large barrier for many designers wanting to take steps toward responsible design. Thanks to initiatives and organizations such as the Centre for Sustainable Fashion’s Shared Talent India, Ethical Fashion Forum’s annual Spotlight on Sourcing Expo (more info. here), Offset Warehouse and...

Fair Wear Foundation awarded UN grant to support garment workers in India and Bangladesh

November 17, 2011

Fair Wear Foundation awarded UN grant to support garment workers in India and Bangladesh

The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) has been awarded a grant by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund). Working in India and Bangladesh, the three year grant will be used by FWF and four partner organizations (SAVE and Cividep, in India, and the...

TEST YOURSELF// ETI- NORWAY launches new tool “A Practitioner’s Guide To Ethical Trade”

November 1, 2011

By katrinekarlsen

TEST YOURSELF// ETI- NORWAY launches new tool “A Practitioner’s Guide To Ethical Trade”

Does ethical responsibly apply to me? How do I start? How do I identify the risks in my supply chain? Can I really make a difference? Here at SA we say that the answer to all the above is YES! The idea of ethical and environmental practice can...

VOICES // Imagining a common etiquette through responsible fashion

October 21, 2011

VOICES // Imagining a common etiquette through responsible fashion

This post was written by Maya Kenova and Audrey Vincent, post-graduate students in the Applied Imagination course at Central Saint Martins and creators of Common Fashion and Fashion Etiquette Insider projects. In this post, they share their individual journeys toward responsible fashion design, marketing and consumption, harnessing creativity and imagination. VOICES // a feature space...

LEARN // Playfair 2012 Campaign launches new teaching resources

October 21, 2011

LEARN // Playfair 2012 Campaign launches new teaching resources

The Playfair 2012 Campaign has launched with new cross-curriculum teaching resources for learners aged 9-14. “Lesson ideas and activities make links between different subjects including art and design, citizenship, English, geography and maths. By using this pack, pupils can develop their understanding of why decent working conditions are part of the United Nations...

Urgent | Knit a Sweater for a Penguin!

October 20, 2011

By nadiralamrad

Urgent | Knit a Sweater for a Penguin!

UPDATE: Sweaters for Skeinz have reached critical mass! If your still keen to knit a sweater, contact the organizations directly (information below) to make sure they are still in demand. Here’s the update from Skeinz: “we do have crital mass of jumpers – but don’t worry if you...

READ // Let’s Clean Up Fashion 2011, Labour Behind the Label reports

September 16, 2011

READ // Let’s Clean Up Fashion 2011, Labour Behind the Label reports

Labour Behind the Label has released a new report, Let’s Clean up Fashion 2011: The state of pay behind the UK high street (LCUF). With respect to a living wage on the high street, this is the 5th edition in a series of LCUF reports from LBL. The findings...

Fun Find | Vintage Chinese Fashion Magazine

September 11, 2011

By nadiralamrad

Fun Find | Vintage Chinese Fashion Magazine

Remember about a year ago when I posted an overview of the exhibit The Evergreen Classic: Transformation of the Qipao that was showing at the Hong Kong Museum of History. This is somewhat of a follow-up to that post. Yesterday, while perusing my twitter friend feed I came across this:...

Where Are These Child Labourers Working?

September 11, 2011

By nadiralamrad

Where Are These Child Labourers Working?

Today, we’re playing a game. Read the clues and try to figure out the location before you get to the end of this post. In this country, children between the ages of 12 and 18 are legally allowed to work long hours in all sorts of hazardous conditions as...

ATTEND // Sustain – Fashion/Textile Tutor Conference, Fashioning an Ethical Industry

September 11, 2011

ATTEND // Sustain – Fashion/Textile Tutor Conference, Fashioning an Ethical Industry

“Ethics are on the agenda. Those involved in fashion education need to be teaching the next generation of industry players – fashion students – about the social and environmental impact of the industry so they can find creative and innovative solutions in the fashion industry of the future.” (Fashioning...

LEARN // We Day introduces new teacher resources for pre-16 learners

September 10, 2011

LEARN // We Day introduces new teacher resources for pre-16 learners

Just in time for the new school year, Free the Children has launched an updated We Day website, showcasing their lesson plans for elementary and secondary school educators and learners. Topics include the Millennium Development Goals, children’s rights, clean water, hunger, education and community mapping, among others. This is...

IMG cancels runway of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of tyrannical Uzbeck dictator

September 9, 2011

IMG cancels runway of Gulnara Karimova, daughter of tyrannical Uzbeck dictator

IMG has moved to cancel the September 15th runway show of Gulnara Karimova. What’s the big deal? Only that Karimova is the daughter of Islam Karimov…the President of Uzbekistan. “Gulnara Karimova is a senior government official and daughter of strongman Islam Karimov whose regime is widely criticized for its...

ATTEND // (sustainable) Fashion’s Night Out, New York

September 8, 2011

ATTEND // (sustainable) Fashion’s Night Out, New York

If you’re in New York, check out (sustainable) Fashion’s Night Out, hosted by EcoSalon, Of Rags, NYC Fair Trade Coalition and Textile Arts Center. Not just for an evening of shopping and celebrating, but also education! FREE education! “(sustainable) Fashion’s Night Out is a collaboration that celebrates sustainability’s place...

Otto von Busch Hacks Fashion Theory

September 2, 2011

Otto von Busch Hacks Fashion Theory

As you know, we’re huge fans of Otto von Busch for his innovative work and research in ir/responsible fashion and hackivism. In a recent project, Otto hacks fashion theory through a series of small booklets. We’ve just added them to our required reading list and so should you! “Fashion...

Next up…A Living Wage!

August 31, 2011

By nadiralamrad

Next up…A Living Wage!

It’s no secret that the CSR industry cycles through trends of the ‘it’ topic. For a while the hottest topic was workers at Latin American maquiladores, then it was human rights in the sports lifestyle industry, then we moved on to organic cotton, and water ‘stewardship’ and the cycles continue. Lately,...

Mass Faintings, Fixed-Duration Contracts and the ILO’s Better Factories Cambodia Program

August 30, 2011

Mass Faintings, Fixed-Duration Contracts and the ILO’s Better Factories Cambodia Program

You’ve likely followed the mass faintings of garment workers that have taken place in Cambodia this year. While most reports have cited gruelling working conditions and worker exposure to toxic chemicals as likely causes, reasons for the faintings remain unclear. - – - – - – - – -...

Co-design with Jen Ballie at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

August 24, 2011

Co-design with Jen Ballie at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Join Jen Ballie, PhD Candidate with Chelsea College of Art and Design at the University of the Arts London, in London on August 26th and 27th for a workshop on co-design at V&A. DRESS UP/DOWNload Workshop Sackler Centre Reception Friday 18.30–19.30 & 20.00–21.30 Saturday 13.00–16.30 DRESS UP/DOWNload is an...

i-Sustain // The Centre for Sustainable Fashion partners with i-D to transform perceptions of clothing

August 9, 2011

i-Sustain // The Centre for Sustainable Fashion partners with i-D to transform perceptions of clothing

The Centre for Sustainable Fashion has partnered with i-D to deliver a 12 part series designed to transform the way we buy, wear and consider fashion. In i-Sustain: Issue III—the third instalment— Alex McIntosh investigates marketing, consumption and notions of a collective conscious while featuring designer Ruth Ferguson’s responsible...

Sneaky Business // Oxfam Australia organizes virtual protest to support the rights of footwear workers

August 9, 2011

Sneaky Business // Oxfam Australia organizes virtual protest to support the rights of footwear workers

Oxfam Australia has launched a new online campaign: Sneaky Business—a virtual march touring protesters across factories in Southeast Asia, China and Central America, all the way to the headquarters of leading shoe manufacturer, Nike. The march is a call for action for workers rights in the global footwear industry....

VOTE // Trim the Waste of Fashion

August 9, 2011

VOTE // Trim the Waste of Fashion

Have you been following Yoxi’s Trim the Waste of Fashion competition? Well, it’s time to get your vote in with Round 1: Perspective. There are 9 teams competing in this round, with only 6 advancing. FOREVERMORE, by Amy DuFault, Managing Editor at Ecosalon, and Eliza Starbuck, of the Uniform...

From Understanding to Design and Back Again // Denver Cumulus

August 4, 2011

From Understanding to Design and Back Again // Denver Cumulus

The Cumulus conference will be held in Denver from Sept. 29 – Oct.2, under the theme From Understanding to Design and Back Again. “Designers can no longer be spectators. The boundaries we are used to have disappeared and as human beings we ‘play’ a real role in designing the...

Made-by updates fibre benchmark to reflect current research

August 3, 2011

Made-by updates fibre benchmark to reflect current research

The Made-by Environmental Benchmark for Fibres has been updated to reflect new research. The benchmark considers six categories: greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) until spinning, human toxicity, ecological toxicity, energy and water input and land use (Made-by). “In response to feedback we have included new fibres in this updated Benchmark;...

Call for Papers // Research Journal of Textile and Apparel

August 3, 2011

Call for Papers // Research Journal of Textile and Apparel

The Research Journal of Textile and Apparel is seeking papers for two Special Issues: 1) Fashion and Textile Strategies for Sustainable Design and Consumption Submission of original papers: December 2011 Reviewer’s feedback and evaluation: February/March 2012 Notification of acceptance: April 2012 Publication: August 2012 2) The influence of natural...

Bangladeshi garment workers denied rights, War on Want reports

August 3, 2011

Bangladeshi garment workers denied rights, War on Want reports

War on Want has published a new report outlining current conditions for garment workers in Bangladesh—Stitched Up: Women workers in the Bangladeshi garment sector. Of the many issues addressed in this report, the research outlines the true impact of short lead times, explaining how wages earned can depend on...

Autodesk streamlines responsible design education with innovative video lecture series

August 1, 2011

Autodesk streamlines responsible design education with innovative video lecture series

With a little help from Mr. Imagination, Dawn Danby, Sustainable Design Program Manager at Autodesk, and Jeremy Faludi, Sustainable Design Expert and Stanford University Lecturer, deliver video tutorials on responsible design through Autodesk’s Education Series: Design for Product Lifetime Strategies. “Introduction to Design for Product Lifetime” (embedded below) is...

Designing values, Cradle to Cradle

July 31, 2011

Designing values, Cradle to Cradle

No matter where we sit—consumer, designer, marketer, researcher, educator, etc.—on the global apparel supply chain, our understanding of responsibility stems from our values, individual or shared. “By design, we start with values” (William McDonough) We must constantly ask ourselves: “What are my values? What are my intentions? Do they...

Fashioning an Ethical Industry and London College of Fashion report // Steps Towards Sustainability: Snapshot Bangladesh

July 30, 2011

Fashioning an Ethical Industry and London College of Fashion report // Steps Towards Sustainability: Snapshot Bangladesh

Earlier this year, Fashioning an Ethical Industry (FEI) and London College of Fashion joined forces to produce Steps Towards Sustainability: Snapshot Bangladesh — A resource for fashion students and educators. “the seeds for creating a vibrant, more sustainable fashion industry in Bangladesh have started to be sown” (Steps...

Ethical Fashion Forum inspires and rewards through INNOVATION

July 30, 2011

Ethical Fashion Forum inspires and rewards through INNOVATION

The 2011 Ethical Fashion Forum INNOVATION Award winners (UK) and shortlisted candidates (USA) have been announced! With an expert judging panel, the INNOVATION award inspires and rewards, with winners showcased through widespread press coverage, an opportunity to show at Pure London (August) or Nolcha Fashion Week (September) and a...

Oxfam International // Supporting garment workers through education and engagement

July 28, 2011

Oxfam International // Supporting garment workers through education and engagement

You know Oxfam as a leader in global humanitarian efforts—working toward poverty reduction, advocating and campaigning on behalf of human rights, leading the fight against unregulated international arms trade (all the way to the UN, with Arms Trade Treaty negotiations expected to close in 2012), promoting gender equality, health...

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