Responsibility

Here comes the ethical bride…

February 16, 2009
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Here comes the ethical bride…

  The current issue of Ethical Style has dedicated itself to brides to be: “Big day, big decisions — how to turn your white wedding green”   It offers simple suggestions toward some ethical options on your big day. The greatest thing about the guide however is the wide range of resources it provides; including the 3D’s: diamonds, dresses and destinations. A perfect illustration that an ethical choice doesn’t have to be   a) ugly or b) expensive (actually, in some circles the jury may still be out…)   You brides probably have enough on your mind, but you...

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How does “Poison Plastic” translate to “Sustainable Plastic”? Anyone?

February 11, 2009
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  And so, as promised, I had sent an email requesting more information on PVC to Melissa (via Arbec Group), Vivienne Westwood and Grendene.   I received an email response from the Arbec Group immediately asking me which environmental and safety concerns I was referring to. A simple Google search might have given them an idea, but none the less, here was my response:   According to this 2005 Greenbiz article, “azardous chemicals are used and released in this commonly used material, the second highest selling plastic in the world. Studies show links between chemicals created and used during...

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Vivienne Westwood: PVC Debate

February 6, 2009
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Vivienne Westwood: PVC Debate

   Vivienne Westwood recently teamed up with Melissa to create a new shoe collection. “The Fashion Audit: 02/02/09” in The Independent claims that these shoes are made from recycled rubber. The shoe company offers limited information on the details of the environmental factors associated with the plastic. One thing for sure, the shoes, like all Melissa shoes, are made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Now, I am no expert on PVC, that’s for sure, but I seem to recall the material being associated with some pretty serious safety and environmental risks. What’s changed? Apparently, at least one PVC manufacturer (Grendene), has...

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Hong Kong Textile Conference Includes Eco-Component

February 6, 2009
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  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...

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Sweated Labour, Dell, Transparency and this Blog

February 5, 2009
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  The issue of transparency is an important one. So, here’s a little blogging transparency … I write Social Alterations on my ‘Made in China’ Espresso Brown Dell Inspiron 1525.   The National Labour Committee released a report today titled “High Tech Misery in China: The Dehumanization of Young Workers Producing Our Computer Keyboards” Sure enough, Dell is one of the companies manufacturing products in the Meitai Plastics & Electronics factory highlighted in the report in Dongguan City, Guangdong China.   According to the report, the base salary at the factory is 64 cents/hour. Minus room and board, workers...

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AHRC: Call for more attention for handloom weavers suffering from hunger and Tuberculosis in Varanasi‏

January 30, 2009
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  The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) released a ‘Hunger Alert’ update today regarding the state of poverty and TB amongst handloom weavers in Varanasi, India. According to the report, the weavers are suffering from lack of medical attention, government neglect and extreme poverty and hunger. You can read the entire alert, as well as view a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health and World Health Organisation calling for their intervention here.    What does this have to do with sustainable fashion design? To say that the textile sector in India is vast would...

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Global Surplus in Organic Cotton Production

January 27, 2009
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  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.

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FEI Conference

January 27, 2009
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FEI Conference

  Fashioning an Ethical Industry: Putting Ethics into Practice March 11th, 2009   This is a one day conference that will bring together experts in ethical fashion, as well as students and tutors, to discuss the current state of the ethical fashion industry, and ways to put ethics into practice. There is no question this will be an excellent conference.   You can read more about this year’s conference and speakers here. To read a report on last year’s event click here, or to listen to a podcast, click here. Source: FEI

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The nature of your garment is to fall apart?

January 26, 2009
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    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)

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Fast fashion to blame for female consumer complaints in the UK

January 25, 2009
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  Consumer complaints in the UK surrounding poorly made clothing increased by 22% in 2008, according to this article by The Independent. The article cites a report by Consumer Direct released today. It claims that the biggest consumer complaint amongst females came from ‘defective goods’, at 34%.   According to the article, “n the past five years, with the rise of “value” retailers, the price of clothing has fallen by as much as 25 per cent, while shoppers have bought almost 40 per cent more garments. This suggests fast fashion may be behind the increase in problem items.”  ...

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