CSR

Community News

March 26, 2010
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Community News

Eco-conscious artist transforms trashed PCBs into stunning sculptures via Ecofriend A roundup of some of the stories, headlines, and updates you may be interested in from in and around the community of socially responsible fashion design. Become a Fan on Facebook for other news, links and regular updates. Core77 Design and the public good CSR Asia Not for Sale: Exporting products from forced labour camps in China CSR and poverty alleviation CSR Europe ‘Degradable’ plastic not so environmentally fantastic, study reveals Shoppers go green ‘to impress neighbours not to save planet’, study finds UN report reveals financial cost of environmental...

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World Water Day: 2010

March 22, 2010
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World Water Day: 2010

March 22nd is World Water Day. Here are just a handful of stats out of the UN report World Water Day 2010: Clean Water for a Healthy World, “Water quality facts and statistics”: Worldwide, infectious diseases such as waterborne diseases are the number one killer of children under five years old. More people die from unsafe water annually than from all forms of violence, including war. (WHO 2002) Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhoea each year, and results in 2.2 million deaths, mostly of children under five. This means that 15% of child deaths each year are attributable to diarrhoea – a...

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Bring David Suzuki to Work

March 22, 2010
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Bring David Suzuki to Work

The David Suzuki Foundation has launched a FREE downloadable toolkit to help businesses and organizations tread a little more lightly on the planet.   “Work life isn’t just about punching a clock with a bunch of strangers. Smart employers know that their people are happiest and most productive when workplace culture matches their personal values. Companies who are in it for the long run know that reducing waste and increasing efficiency makes them more profitable and competitive.” (David Suzuki) Here’s the pitch: Does this sound like you? You care about the environment and want to see more done at...

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Organic Exchange/MADE-BY: ‘The Case for Sustainable Fashion’

March 21, 2010
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Organic Exchange/MADE-BY: ‘The Case for Sustainable Fashion’

“MADE-BY and Organic Exchange is delighted to invite you to a unique 2-day intensive seminar on sustainable fashion (clothing and textile) in Stockholm! This seminar is the perfect opportunity to assist textile and apparel professionals working in brands and retailers to come up to speed on changes and opportunities in the supply chain. Speakers and several important topics covered include: • Environmentally Friendly Fabrics – Understand the Definition, Sourcing and Production Issues, • A Discussion on Recycled Materials – Polyester and Nylon, • Responsible Processing – The Good The Bad & The Ugly of Dyeing and Finishing Industry, •...

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American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA): Green Summit

March 21, 2010
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American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA): Green Summit

“The seminar, to be held at the Chateau Frontenac Hotel, will include an overview of new life-cycle assessment research; information and tools designed to help market the benefits of reusable textiles; and information on how to enhance and measure the sustainability of a facility’s operations. The Green Summit is open to ARTA members and non-members and as well as education and networking opportunities, will also feature supplier exhibits. Announcing the event, ARTA president Steve Tinker said that to remain competitive, businesses would need to incorporate sustainable practices into operations and be able to verify those efforts. “Some might argue...

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Social Alterations// Slides

March 15, 2010
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Nadira and I both promised to make the slides from our presentations at the FEI conference available online, and here they are, along with a slideshow of some of the images we captured from the event. I’ve reposted the videos of the presentations for convenience. Thanks to everyone who offered feedback, we were so grateful for your considerations. Please, keep let’s keep the conversation going! Be sure to contact us with any questions! Social Alterations: An Education Lab for Socially Responsible Fashion Design View more presentations from socialalterations. Social Alterations @ FEI from Social Alterations on Vimeo. CSR Trends...

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Responsible Design: Why should design students care?

March 15, 2010
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Responsible Design: Why should design students care?

  Earlier this month SA had the pleasure of interviewing David Goldsmith from The Swedish School of Textiles and Parsons, Eleanor Dorrien-Smith from PARTIMI, Kat Ross and Larissa Clark from the Environmental Justice Foundation, Carolina Gomez-Aubert from Lunamano, and Sophie Koers from the Fair Wear Foundation. We asked them for their take on responsible design, and why they think design students should care. Responsible Design: Why should design students care? from Social Alterations on Vimeo. What does responsible design mean to you, and why do you think design students should care?

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READ// Kate Fletcher, Matilda Lee, and Sandy Black

March 12, 2010
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READ// Kate Fletcher, Matilda Lee, and Sandy Black

  The ‘Open Space’ at the FEI conference featured celebrated authors Kate Fletcher, Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys, Matilda Lee, Eco-Chic: The Savvy Shoppers Guide to Ethical Fashion, and Sandy Black, Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox. You can find these texts and others in our reading section.   FEI set the stage for the Open Space format as an opportunity for conference participants to network, strategise, learn, share, challenge, be inspired and stimulate one another in a supportive environment. Fletcher, Lee and Black each presented their own discussion question, and participants were also given the chance to create posed...

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WATCH// Nadira Lamrad on CSR in China’s Apparel Supply Chain

March 11, 2010
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WATCH// Nadira Lamrad on CSR in China’s Apparel Supply Chain

SA’s Nadira Lamrad presented her research, “CSR Trends in China’s Apparel Supply Chain,” at the FEI conference on March 2nd. The workshop, titled “New Approaches in Education and Industry,” was chaired by industry consultant Maggie Burns, and speaking alongside Nadira was Dr. Matilda Tham, professor of fashion at Beckmans College of Design in Stockholm. Tham’s presentation was titled “Lucky People Forecast Approach: How can education support engagement with systemic sustainable fashion futures?” The workshop generated some interesting questions and concerns surrounding education in CSR, and we’re hoping we can keep the conversation going here, so be sure to leave...

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A Message from the NLC

March 5, 2010
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A Message from the NLC

Yesterday we posted a link on our Facebook Fan Page on the tragic factory fire in Bangladesh on Feb. 25th that killed 21 workers (mostly women) and injured 31 more. Below is a message today from the National Labor Committee (NLC): Urgent Action Alert Please help.  No more needless and tragic deaths! On the night of February 25, a fire broke out at the Garib & Garib sweater factory in Bangladesh, leaving 25 to 30 workers trapped in the pitch darkness on the 6th floor.  The emergency exit was locked and the other staircase was cluttered with bales of...

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