Social Responsibility

Sseko Designs: Social Change through Responsible Business

April 8, 2010
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Sseko Designs: Social Change through Responsible Business

Janette Crawford, who runs one of our favourite blogs, fashion loves people, has shared a wonderful interview she had originally done for KCFreePress.com. The interview is with Liz Bohannon, founder of Sseko Designs, an organization working to provide women with tuition money they need to attend college in Uganda through social enterprise. I encourage you to head over to fashion loves people straight away to check out the full interview. I wanted to share this video clip with you here, as a source of encouragement. Liz Bohannon speaks passionately on the power of social enterprise in creating sustainable change—her...

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drc: Design Research Conference 2010// IIT Institute of Design + Competition

March 30, 2010
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drc: Design Research Conference 2010// IIT Institute of Design + Competition

“The IIT Institute of Design’s 9th Annual Design Research Conference (DRC) will be held at the Spertus Institute in downtown Chicago on May 10-12th 2010. It will feature exceptional international speakers and opportunities to spend time with our brilliant community of designers, planners, researchers, educators, students, managers and executives concerned with understanding people.” (drc) This year’s conference includes a design research competition. The deadline to apply is April 2nd, but hey…you still have 3 days! The winners will get to speak at the conference, and will be included in the program. Click here to apply! Good Luck! Check out...

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Design Currency 2010// Design Week, Vancouver

March 26, 2010
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Design Currency 2010// Design Week, Vancouver

Design Currency: Icograda Design Week In Vancouver Cur”rency\ The state or quality of being current; general acceptance or reception; a passing from person to person, or from hand to hand. Design has the power to influence our core values, our identity, our expectations and our worldview. Design brings clarity and enhances meaning. Design Currency 2010 offers designers, business leaders and government the opportunity to experience current design thinking. Reshape your understanding of the value of design.  As a Vancouverite, I am so excited for Design Week Vancouver: Design Currency 2010. I’ve written before on SA on the inspiring research...

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READ// the Fair Wear formula

March 26, 2010
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READ// the Fair Wear formula

The Fair Wear Foundation (FWF) has launched a new publication, the Fair Wear formula. “The design by Ruben @ Buro RuSt combines with the more than readable texts by Anne Lally combine to create an innovative, attractive description of the FWF approach to improving labour conditions in garment supply chains. In hardback or paperback.” (FWF) Image: FWF’s focus (image from the Fair Wear formula, (c) Buro RuSt   If you aren’t already familiar with the Fair Wear Foundation, an international verification initiative dedicated to enhancing workers’ lives, take a minute to check out their guiding principles: Supply chain responsibility...

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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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Lunamano

March 15, 2010
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Carolina Gomez-Aubert is the Creative Director behind Lunamano : material rescue and re-design. Presenting both her company and academic research at the FEI conference earlier this month, Carolina passionately described the desperate situation of the women she works with in El Salvador: one woman had been turned away from working at the Maquila for getting pregnant; another was left without income when her husband, away at work in America, suddenly stopped sending money when he found someone else. Lunamano offers these women an opportunity for empowerment and the chance at financial security through socially, culturally, economically and environmentally sensitive,...

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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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