Supply Chain

Interview with Hare+Hart

April 5, 2010
By
Interview with Hare+Hart

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I emailed Hare+Hart some interview questions which they promptly answered.  Company founders, Jennie Engelhardt and Emily Harrison, are doing some very inspiring work in the leather business and have taken the time out of their busy schedule (including moving and preparing for a two month trip to Argentina to work on their upcoming line) to answer our questions.  Thank you Hare+Hart. SA:  Let’s start at the beginning, how did you end up in Argentina making leather garments? H+H:  There are more cows living in Argentina than people.  Historically, Argentine culture is centered around...

Read more »

READ// the Fair Wear formula

March 26, 2010
By
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...

Read more »

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

March 21, 2010
By
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, •...

Read more »

American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA): Green Summit

March 21, 2010
By
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...

Read more »

Social Alterations// Slides

March 15, 2010
By

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...

Read more »

Responsible Design: Why should design students care?

March 15, 2010
By
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?

Read more »

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

March 12, 2010
By
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...

Read more »

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

March 11, 2010
By
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...

Read more »

A Message from the NLC

March 5, 2010
By
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...

Read more »

WATCH// Social Alterations @ FEI

March 4, 2010
By
WATCH// Social Alterations @ FEI

Here are just two of the videos we took at the conference. We have more videos to come, so stay tuned for those. The first video is of my Pecha Kucha talk. I’ll be posting the slides and my notes a little later on. Please contact us if you have any questions on the works cited in the presentation. Social Alterations @ FEI from Social Alterations on Vimeo. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) held the table next to ours during the Market Place on day two of the conference. We asked them what exactly responsible fashion meant to the...

Read more »