Interstoff Asia Essential Spring 2009 Seminar Program includes an eco-textile panel component. The conference runs from March 18-20th, 2009. The eco-session on the 19th asks “Can sustainability survive the global credit crunch?” The panel was co-organized with Eco Textile News. Brand Session: Harsha Vardhan, H&M and Hans Buehr, Head of Purchasing, Triumph International. The session will be moderated by Mr. John Mowbray, Editor of Eco Textile News. Supplier Session: Mr. Paul Mui, Head of Business Management Textile Chemicals East Asia, BASF (China) Co Ltd. The moderator for this session has yet to be determined. The second session...
Environment
Global Surplus in Organic Cotton Production
According to this article by Eco-Textile News, although 2008 saw an increase in demand for organic cotton by 33%, global production was left with an 8% surplus. The article cites information released by non-profit Organic Exchange, who also claim that demand for organic cotton will likely result in a 24% increase in 2009 an worry that inventory will remain too high. The Organic Cotton Market Report will be available in Feb 2009 for review.
The nature of your garment is to fall apart?
Another interesting article taken from The Independent today, discussed some frustrations in dealing with products that not only fall apart, but are designed to fall apart. Thought it might be time for another poll. So, if your garment has a meltdown, what do you do? (polls)
Compostmodern 09
If you’re interested in sustainable design, check out the Compostmodern 09 conference. The event will be available as a webcast, so you only have to worry about the long commute to your office, living room, kitchen table, or bed to get there. Feb 21st is the big day/40$ webcast registration This years scheduled speakers: Eames Demetrios/Eames Office Saul Griffith/Makani Power Allan Chochinov/Core 77 Nathan Shedroff/MBA Chair, California College of the Arts (CCA) Michel Gelobter, John Bielenberg and Pam Dorr/Project M and HERO Housing Resource, Alabama Emily Pilloton/Project H Design Dawn Danby/Sustainable Design Program Manager, Autodesk ...
new book investigates the ‘do good’ potential of design
David B. Berman wants design professionals to take his pledge, and commit to use 10% of their design efforts to ‘do good’. In his new book, Do Good Design: How Designers can Change the World Berman links design as the cause of environmental and social concerns today: How did design help choose a president? Why are people buying houses they can’t afford? Why do U.S. car makers now struggle to compete? Why do we really have an environmental crisis? If you are interested in investigating the social responsibility of design, this book should prove interesting. Read more on the book and the Berman’s design pledge...
feeling fashionably overweight?
The “Household Textile Environmental Impact Calculator” wants your closet to think about going on a diet. The calculator asseses you based on annual water usage, energy usage, use of non-renewable resources, and pollution. Unfortunately the calculator doesn’t account for non conventional fabrics, such as hemp. What is impressive however, is the fact that the calculator takes you through the lifecycle of your garments: purchasing, care, and disposal. The year is almost up, so Dec. marks a perfect time to start calculating and re-calculating to think about consumption practices for the year ahead. It doesn’t take long to calculate your annual...
