This past Friday, on behalf of SA, I delivered a tailored version of the [Fashion High] workshop to a dedicated group of young Canadian activists – 60 Grade 8 students taking part in a 24-hour fast to raise awareness and funds for childhood rights through Free the Children.

Seeing as how the group had already not eaten for nearly 12 hours by the time our workshop began, we thought we’d spare them the Power Point presentation and replace it with two new activities—the first encouraged students to draw connections between key players, and the second allowed students the opportunity to communicate and share their feelings of hope and frustration.

We’d like to thank these activists for their dedication and congratulate them on their great work in raising nearly $5,000 for a cause they wholeheartedly stand behind.

I can say, with confidence, that the young activists I met on Friday will not tolerate being a part of any system based on human exploitation. And this we can look forward to…

Note: the activities mentioned above will be included in the upcoming GE module.

“A statement headpiece inspired by the emotions of imprisonment”

by Maughan Pearce, MDES Candidate, Fashion Design

SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY

We are very pleased to introduce SA Designer in Residence Maughan Pearce, joining our team for a 10-week research placement as part of her studies at Sheffield Hallam University.

In her work and research, Maughan supports design driven solutions to the socio-political, cultural and environmental challenges found throughout fashion value chains, and we couldn’t be happier to have her on board.

“I feel strongly that despite publicity about the damaging consequences of the fashion industry, the trend for fast fashion may actually be increasing the negative impacts.”(Maughan Pearce)

During the 10-week placement, Maughan will be helping us build our online Google Earth module. Along the way, we will explore a (re)investigation into design education, design (re)intervention and new fashion theory. She will also be contributing to the SA blog, so be sure to keep an eye out for her weekly entries.

We will be working with Maughan to ensure she achieves her main goals for the placement: gain work/research experience outside the confines of academia, build contacts and network with key players related to her career goals, and enhance professionalism.

If you’d like to reach out to Maughan and learn more about her research interests and goals, please get in touch and we’ll be sure to connect you.

The Centre for Sustainable Fashion has compiled and released a collection of student and tutor resources.

Signposts features a responsible design reading list (undergraduate and postgraduate level), alongside projects, people and networks.

That’s not all, however. The compilation also includes a guide to responsible sourcing, showcasing initiatives such as Shared Talent India.

We’re honoured to have SA listed within the Matrix of Support Organisations – and what a strong group of organizations it is! The future for responsible fashion and apparel is bright!

Happy learning!

Source: CFS

You may already have read about the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act (SB 657) that went into effect on January 1^st of this year (2012).

There is no question that slavery and human trafficking run rampant in the global textile/apparel industry. Thanks to the University of Delaware and The Cahn Group, a short online course is here to help.

“When companies explore the extent of these tragic abuses in their supply chains in depth, what they are likely to find may be revealing and more than a bit sobering.” (Doug Cahn and Marsha Dickson)

Risks of Human Trafficking and Slavery: A Short Course for Supply Chain Professionals:

• Learning Goal # 1: Be aware of human trafficking and slavery in supply chains.
• Learning Goal # 2: Identify human trafficking and slavery risks present in company supply chains.
• Learning Goal # 3: Support prevention and mitigation efforts when human trafficking and slavery is suspected.

The course is taught by its creators, Doug Cahn, President, The Cahn Group, LLC, and Dr. Marsha Dickson, Professor and Chairperson Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware.

A closer look //

Although the act is a state law, applying only to retailers and sellers working in Californiaearning more than 100,000,000.00 in “annual worldwide gross receipts” (Senate Bill No. 657 Ch.556, pg. 1), the law in fact “applies to nearly every major brand of consumer products sold in the United States.” (Doug Cahn and Marsha Dickson)

The act not only requires companies to implement real strategies for supply chain engagement, transparency, auditing, certification and internal accountability (Senate Bill No. 657Ch.556, pg. 3), but also that documentation of such strategies “be posted on the retail seller’s or manufacturer’s Internet Web site with a conspicuous and easily understood link to the required information placed on the business’ homepage.” (Senate Bill No. 657Ch.556, pg. 3)

Companies must also provide relevant employees and managers with necessary training on slavery and human trafficking laws within the countries they are doing business with. (Senate Bill No. 657Ch.556, pg. 3)

Here are just two of many declarations made in the act (Senate Bill No. 657Ch.556, pg. 2):

(h) Consumers and businesses are inadvertently promoting and sanctioning these crimes through the purchase of goods and products that have been tainted in the supply chain.

(i) Absent publicly available disclosures, consumers are at a disadvantage in being able to distinguish companies on the merits of their efforts to supply products free from the taint of slavery and trafficking. Consumers are at a disadvantage in being able to force the eradication of slavery and trafficking by way of their purchasing decisions.

Some helpful links for further reading on Slavery and Human Trafficking //

Anti-Slavery international

Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking—The Facts

Human Rights Watch: World Report 2012

The Asian Human Rights Commission: The State of Human Rights Annual Report (2011)

Slavery Convention: Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

UN.GIFT.HUB

Sasha Duerr, founder of Permacouture Institute and author of The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes: Personalize Your Craft with Organic Colors from Acorns, Blackberries, Coffee, and Other Everyday Ingredients, will be teaching a series of courses and workshops at California College of the Arts devoted to slow fashion/textiles and natural dyeing this upcoming winter/spring 2012 session:

FORAGING FOR FASHION

PERMACOUTURE: SLOW FASHION & TEXTILE WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS

SLOW TEXTILES: INTRODUCTION TO FIBER & DYE GARDENING

SLOW TEXTILES: THE PLANT DYER’S PALETTE

Click here for information on course details, schedules and fees.

Kate Fletcher, author of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys, and Lynda Grose, assistant professor at California College of the Arts, have a new book coming out in April 2012, Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change.

With a forward by Paul Hawken, the book is divided into three parts:

PART 1: TRANSFORMING FASHION PRODUCTS

Materials / Processes / Distribution / Consumer care / Disposal

PART 2: TRANSFORMING FASHION SYSTEMS

Local / Speed / Needs / Adaptability / Services and sharing / Hygiene and laundering / Optimised lifetimes / Biomimicry / Engaged / Distribution

PART 3: TRANSFORMING FASHION PRACTICE

The designer

Educators, add this book to your required/suggested reading lists!

Click here for more information.

Back in September, with support from Tides Canada, the Google Earth Outreach team selected Social Alterations to join nearly 50 social justice and environmental security organizations from across Canada for a three-day intensive workshop.

The specialized training provided insight on how to harness Google Earth and Google Maps to deliver cutting edge education on social justice and environmental security issues.

At the end of the week, Dr. David Suzuki joined Google Earth Outreach founder Rebecca Moore as guest speaker in an intimate reception to mark the official launch of Google Earth Outreach in Canada.

In his speech, Dr. Suzuki highlighted the important role Google Earth can play in securing social justice and environmental protection and celebrated the Google Earth Outreach team on all that they have accomplished so far.

To be chosen to join the crème de la crème in Canada’s non-profit and social enterprising sector was an honour, and one we have not taken lightly.

So far we’ve successfully integrated Google Earth into some of our in-class guest lectures:

• we’ve connected cotton production to human security for Political Science students at Simon Fraser University using a case-study analysis of the Aral Sea crisis with the aid of historic satellite imagery, and

• taken the Textile Arts students at Capilano University through a virtual tour of our t-shirt travels programming using Google Earth and mapping tools.

While we’re not ready to launch the online component of our Google Earth education platform just yet, we’d like to thank Tides Canada and Google Earth Outreach for supporting the work we do through Social Alterations.

We can’t wait to share with you what we’ve been working on, so stay tuned!

Photo credit: Tides Canada Facebook page, “Google Earth Outreach Launch with Tides Canada” album, 7 of 25.