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 have just completed yours – still send it in to us as we will keep stocks available for the Wildlife Rescue Team to draw from if required.” - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -...
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. - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - Fast Facts // Cambodia “The face...
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; mechanically and chemically recycled polyesters are now differentiated to represent the different environmental impacts of the recycling technologies used, and recycled wool has been added in Class A. Whilst we are keeping an eye on this area, there have been no new studies made publically available to help us review...
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 colorants in modern textile design and production Submission of original papers: September 2011 Reviewer’s feedback and evaluation: November/December 2011 Notification of acceptance: January 2012 Publication: March 2012 Submissions for each are encouraged (but not limited to) the following topics: - – - – - – - – - – -...
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 align? How do they translate in practice?” Easier said than done? Not with Cradle to Cradle (C2C) design theory: C2C encapsulates values in design, by design. Designers Accord – Sustainability in 7 – Bill McDonough from Core77 on Vimeo. Image Source: “Am I happier now?” image by Carlotta Cataldi,...
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 Towards Sustainability: Snapshot Bangladesh: pg. 4) This must read report presents case studies as a snapshot that “ducators and students can explore them from design, business and apparel management perspectives.” (Steps Towards Sustainability: Snapshot Bangladesh: pg. 6) Case Study 1 People Tree: Designing differently Case Study 2 New Look and...
“To sustainably reduce poverty, guarantee food and nutrition security and provide decent employment for growing populations, we must make the most intelligent use of our natural capital.” (UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon) Achim Steiner UNEP Executive Director from UNEP on Vimeo. WED Challenge behind the scene from UNEP on Vimeo. Happy World Environment Day! Environmental security is a human right! What can you do? Get involved and register your activity or pledge an action here. One of the best ways to take action is to spread the word! Educators, there are a ton of resources over on the United Nations...
The Creative Commons is embedded into our responsible education ethos; we have researched and aggregated content to create educational resources because we believe that accessibility leads to accountability. Of course knowledge is power, but without access to knowledge we will not move forward. In 2009 we brought you “ Sifting through the ‘Ecofashion’ Lexicon” and our “Fibre Analysis”. In 2010 we worked further to bringing you lessons on the social, cultural, economic and environmental interdisciplinary challenges facing the value system that is the global apparel supply chain. Social Alterations 2010 // Corporate Social Responsibility ...
Suzanne Lee, Senior Research Fellow at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London and author of Fashioning The Future: tomorrow’s wardrobe, is brilliantly combining fashion and biology in search of alternative fibre/material. BioCouture is currently on display: Trash Fashion: designing out waste Antenna Gallery, The Science Museum London, until June 2011 The Future That Never Was: Alter Nature ModeMuseum Hasselt, Belgium, until June 2011 Listen in on her recent TED talk:
This post was written by Charlie Ross, Founder of Offset Warehouse and tells the story of one woman’s determination and drive for change. VOICES // a feature space on SA where community members are invited to share their journey in responsible design. What’s your story? The first time ethical design came onto my radar was whilst I was studying for my BA in Fashion and it immediately struck a chord. Inspired by a friend to find out more about the social and environmental horrors underlying much of the fashion industry, I made an early decision to do everything I could...
