The document discusses the environmental impact of clothing production and provides tips for sustainable fashion. It notes that producing one pound of cotton requires 700-2,000 gallons of water and clothing travels over 14,000 miles from field to store while emitting 27 pounds of carbon dioxide per shirt. The document then discusses various natural and synthetic fabric types and provides suggestions for reducing consumption, reusing clothes through repair or upcycling, and prioritizing reduce, repair and reuse over recycling.
Forward Fashion: inspiration deck on sustainable clothing initiativesWorksThatWork
An inspiration deck on sustainable clothing initiatives developed for a global retailer, featuring slow fashion, material innovations, inspiring re-use of waste and the future of clothes.
Overview of the environmental issues directly related to fashion and presenting of alternative, less environmentally damaging fabrics and new ways of thinking
Key Words for A/W 21/22 Eco-friendly/Sustainable Material Trendspringliman
This year, a sudden outbreak sounds the environmental alarm for the heavily polluted fashion industry once again. If we consider Fashion Convention jointly signed by 32 fashion enterprises in August 2019 as a start of whole industry making efforts to carry out large-scale sustainability, radical environmental groups outside of the A/W 2020 four fashion weeks, and environmental protection creativity in the show, have highlighted designers or brands passion for fashion environmental protection and a sustainable future. Environmental/sustainable fashion has become a common topic and a new trend in the international industry. Then, as the second most polluted industry and the source of the fashion industry -- textile fibers and fabrics, how to jointly build a sustainable eco-friendly system through sustainable design, production and reuse, is an important direction for the sustainable development of the fashion industry in the future. The three key words for A/W 21/22 eco-friendly / sustainable material trend will give you a glimpse into the future of sustainable fashion fabrics.
View more: https://www.popfashioninfo.com/trend/
Key Words for A/W 21/22 Eco-friendly/Sustainable Material Trendspringliman
This year, a sudden outbreak sounds the environmental alarm for the heavily polluted fashion industry once again. If we consider Fashion Convention jointly signed by 32 fashion enterprises in August 2019 as a start of whole industry making efforts to carry out large-scale sustainability, radical environmental groups outside of the A/W 2020 four fashion weeks, and environmental protection creativity in the show, have highlighted designers or brands passion for fashion environmental protection and a sustainable future.View more: https://www.popfashioninfo.com/trends/material/
Forward Fashion: inspiration deck on sustainable clothing initiativesWorksThatWork
An inspiration deck on sustainable clothing initiatives developed for a global retailer, featuring slow fashion, material innovations, inspiring re-use of waste and the future of clothes.
Overview of the environmental issues directly related to fashion and presenting of alternative, less environmentally damaging fabrics and new ways of thinking
Key Words for A/W 21/22 Eco-friendly/Sustainable Material Trendspringliman
This year, a sudden outbreak sounds the environmental alarm for the heavily polluted fashion industry once again. If we consider Fashion Convention jointly signed by 32 fashion enterprises in August 2019 as a start of whole industry making efforts to carry out large-scale sustainability, radical environmental groups outside of the A/W 2020 four fashion weeks, and environmental protection creativity in the show, have highlighted designers or brands passion for fashion environmental protection and a sustainable future. Environmental/sustainable fashion has become a common topic and a new trend in the international industry. Then, as the second most polluted industry and the source of the fashion industry -- textile fibers and fabrics, how to jointly build a sustainable eco-friendly system through sustainable design, production and reuse, is an important direction for the sustainable development of the fashion industry in the future. The three key words for A/W 21/22 eco-friendly / sustainable material trend will give you a glimpse into the future of sustainable fashion fabrics.
View more: https://www.popfashioninfo.com/trend/
Key Words for A/W 21/22 Eco-friendly/Sustainable Material Trendspringliman
This year, a sudden outbreak sounds the environmental alarm for the heavily polluted fashion industry once again. If we consider Fashion Convention jointly signed by 32 fashion enterprises in August 2019 as a start of whole industry making efforts to carry out large-scale sustainability, radical environmental groups outside of the A/W 2020 four fashion weeks, and environmental protection creativity in the show, have highlighted designers or brands passion for fashion environmental protection and a sustainable future.View more: https://www.popfashioninfo.com/trends/material/
Fast fashion is any product that is focused on rapid launching ,quick production, quicker marketing and even faster consumption. This presentation shows the negative side of Fast Fashion and ways to promote Slow Fashion among young generation and create awareness about Upcycling of Fashion.
Presentation by
Primary Information Services
www.primaryinfo.com
mailto:primaryinfo@gmail.com
Download PDF Version at
https://www.slideshare.net/thorapadi/presentations
See You tube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ch600091/videos?view_as=subscriber
This presentation looks at the emerging movement to incorporate sustainability into fashion, underscores the challenges the movement is trying to address and the ways in which new startups can move the eco-fashion movement forward.
Future of Fashion Column by Joyce Schwarz Joyce Schwarz
What's next in the future of fashion? Is it fabrics? Is it haptics (touch technology) --find out in this column Joyce Schwarz, media futurist, marketing consultant and business development advisor wrote for this respected trade publication. Email: joyceschwarz@gmail.com
The need and the urge to replace plastic has been so much that we are ready to explore the resources that are provided by the nature and develop it into 25000 products of daily life which is stronger than plastic and biodegradable!
Pakistan’s Rain fed Northern areas offer a unique prospective opportunity to cultivate & value add industrial / medicinal hemp THE GREEN GOLD, Its thriving market size was estimated at USD 3.9 billion globally in 2017, expanding at a CAGR of 14.0%, expected to reach USD 10.6 billion by 2025. Hemp a multi-purpose plant that is eco-friendly, renewable and turns into a white color fiber like cotton, after going through the process of decortication, de-gumming (Cottonization) and spinning. Hemp will revolutionize various industries & sectors as Agriculture, Textiles, Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Food & Nutrition, Building & construction, Automobiles, with positive impact on reducing CO2 emissions .
Sustainable Innovation in Fashion and Interior Design: Summer Rayne OakesSustainable Brands
Ethical fashion design is vibrant and IN - especially among independent designers. Summer Rayne Oakes, model, Discovery Channel’s Planet Green correspondent, and advisor to such brands as Payless ShoeSource, Portico Home, and others talks about her journey first as a scientist analyzing sludge and pollution, five principles of good design, cultural clashes in tradition v. technology, and criteria for analyzing the sustainability of materials. Be sure not to miss out on her fascinating discussion of traditional silk production, and how spider silk could hold the promise for some amazing material innovation and product development.
Fast fashion is any product that is focused on rapid launching ,quick production, quicker marketing and even faster consumption. This presentation shows the negative side of Fast Fashion and ways to promote Slow Fashion among young generation and create awareness about Upcycling of Fashion.
Presentation by
Primary Information Services
www.primaryinfo.com
mailto:primaryinfo@gmail.com
Download PDF Version at
https://www.slideshare.net/thorapadi/presentations
See You tube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ch600091/videos?view_as=subscriber
This presentation looks at the emerging movement to incorporate sustainability into fashion, underscores the challenges the movement is trying to address and the ways in which new startups can move the eco-fashion movement forward.
Future of Fashion Column by Joyce Schwarz Joyce Schwarz
What's next in the future of fashion? Is it fabrics? Is it haptics (touch technology) --find out in this column Joyce Schwarz, media futurist, marketing consultant and business development advisor wrote for this respected trade publication. Email: joyceschwarz@gmail.com
The need and the urge to replace plastic has been so much that we are ready to explore the resources that are provided by the nature and develop it into 25000 products of daily life which is stronger than plastic and biodegradable!
Pakistan’s Rain fed Northern areas offer a unique prospective opportunity to cultivate & value add industrial / medicinal hemp THE GREEN GOLD, Its thriving market size was estimated at USD 3.9 billion globally in 2017, expanding at a CAGR of 14.0%, expected to reach USD 10.6 billion by 2025. Hemp a multi-purpose plant that is eco-friendly, renewable and turns into a white color fiber like cotton, after going through the process of decortication, de-gumming (Cottonization) and spinning. Hemp will revolutionize various industries & sectors as Agriculture, Textiles, Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical, Food & Nutrition, Building & construction, Automobiles, with positive impact on reducing CO2 emissions .
Sustainable Innovation in Fashion and Interior Design: Summer Rayne OakesSustainable Brands
Ethical fashion design is vibrant and IN - especially among independent designers. Summer Rayne Oakes, model, Discovery Channel’s Planet Green correspondent, and advisor to such brands as Payless ShoeSource, Portico Home, and others talks about her journey first as a scientist analyzing sludge and pollution, five principles of good design, cultural clashes in tradition v. technology, and criteria for analyzing the sustainability of materials. Be sure not to miss out on her fascinating discussion of traditional silk production, and how spider silk could hold the promise for some amazing material innovation and product development.
Topic: Wearable Technologies Enabling the Next Wave of Internet of Things Innovation
Speaker: Ting Wei,Li (Senior Vice Present of Sales President of Greater China Broadcom)
Recycling of textile waste products on different process.Rajib Mia
Study On-Recycling of textile waste products on different process.
Presentation on -garments waste product re-use. Recycling is a process in which waste materials are treated in a way that they can be used again. Processes Of Recycling : Collection The first step required for recycling is collecting recyclable materials from communities. Families who recycle items such as paper, bottles and cans, place the items in recycling collection bins. These bins usually have the recycling symbol on them.
We consume our clothes: how clothes are like foodShahira Kamal
Just as we eat food everyday, we get dressed every day (unless you're a nudist, in which case, more power to you). The consumption choices we make with regard to clothing are just as significant as those pertaining to food, as the raw materials and labor for both food and clothing come from the same sources. Also, we literally eat our synthetic clothing in the form of microbeads shed in the laundry, which make their way to rivers, lakes and oceans. They are consumed by aquatic life, and eventually end up on our own dinner plates.
Investing in natural fiber clothing produced in a sustainable manner are steps in the right direction, but the real challenges surround the ideas of consuming less.
Instead of asking ourselves what to do with so much waste, lets ask how to create less waste.
What is Recycling: 7 Benefits of RecyclingPacebutler
This presentation defines recycling as a process, a choice, and as a way of life. It also outlines the 7 basic benefits of recycling to individuals, society, and the environment.
Which Premium Fabrics Are the Most Sustainable.pdfIsabella Barry
The new generation of fashion shoppers prefers natural fabrics made from fibres that are found
naturally. People are beginning to wear dresses made of natural fibres as their environmental
consciousness has increased.
Presentation on Process, pollution & pollution control in textile. Different types of process in textile and by this process how the environment are polluted is described by the presentation.
Can Fashion really be eco-friendly? Or does it signify that somewhere there needs to be a compromise on design and style? Is being ethical only about: reduce, reuse, and recycle?
The answer is it that today, thanks to all the technological advances, it is possible to create a 'green' product that has sustainable, organic properties, is produced in an ethical way and still exhibits refined form of fashion and design elements. Starting from different kinds of organic fibres and raw-materials to using alternate methods of production to recycling or upcycling an existing or waste product - everything today can be done on a sustainable and affordable scale. https://fashionbi.com/insights/marketing-research/eco-friendly-fashion
La transidentité, un sujet qui fractionne les FrançaisIpsos France
Ipsos, l’une des principales sociétés mondiales d’études de marché dévoile les résultats de son étude Ipsos Global Advisor “Pride 2024”. De ses débuts aux Etats-Unis et désormais dans de très nombreux pays, le mois de juin est traditionnellement consacré aux « Marches des Fiertés » et à des événements festifs autour du concept de Pride. A cette occasion, Ipsos a réalisé une enquête dans vingt-six pays dressant plusieurs constats. Les clivages des opinions entre générations s’accentuent tandis que le soutien à des mesures sociétales et d’inclusion en faveur des LGBT+ notamment transgenres continue de s’effriter.
Have you ever wondered about the lost city of Atlantis and its profound connection to our modern world? Ruth Elisabeth Hancock’s podcast, “Visions of Atlantis,” delves deep into this intriguing topic in a captivating conversation with Michael Le Flem, author of the enlightening book titled “Visions of Atlantis.” This podcast episode offers a thought-provoking blend of historical inquiry, esoteric wisdom, and contemporary reflections. Let’s embark on a journey of discovery as we unpack the mysteries of ancient civilizations and their relevance to our present existence.
MRS PUNE 2024 - WINNER AMRUTHAA UTTAM JAGDHANEDK PAGEANT
Amruthaa Uttam Jagdhane, a stunning woman from Pune, has won the esteemed title of Mrs. India 2024, which is given out by the Dk Exhibition. Her journey to this prestigious accomplishment is a confirmation of her faithful assurance, extraordinary gifts, and profound commitment to enabling women.
Johnny Depp Long Hair: A Signature Look Through the Yearsgreendigital
Johnny Depp, synonymous with eclectic roles and unparalleled acting prowess. has also been a significant figure in fashion and style. Johnny Depp long hair is a distinctive trademark among the various elements that define his unique persona. This article delves into the evolution, impact. and cultural significance of Johnny Depp long hair. exploring how it has contributed to his iconic status.
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Introduction
Johnny Depp is an actor known for his chameleon-like ability to transform into a wide range of characters. from the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow in "Pirates of the Caribbean" to the introspective Edward Scissorhands. His long hair is one constant throughout his evolving roles and public appearances. Johnny Depp long hair is not a style choice but a significant aspect of his identity. contributing to his allure and mystique. This article explores the journey and significance of Johnny Depp long hair. highlighting how it has become integral to his brand.
The Early Years: A Budding Star with Signature Locks
1980s: The Rise of a Young Heartthrob
Johnny Depp's journey in Hollywood began in the 1980s. with his breakout role in the television series "21 Jump Street." During this time, his hair was short, but it was already clear that Depp had a penchant for unique and edgy styles. By the decade's end, Depp started experimenting with longer hair. setting the stage for a lifelong signature.
1990s: From Heartthrob to Icon
The 1990s were transformative for Johnny Depp his career and personal style. Films like "Edward Scissorhands" (1990) and "Benny & Joon" (1993) saw Depp sporting various hair lengths and styles. But, his long, unkempt hair in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993) began to draw significant attention. This period marked the beginning of Johnny Depp long hair. which became a defining feature of his image.
The Iconic Roles: Hair as a Character Element
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
In "Edward Scissorhands," Johnny Depp's character had a wild and mane that complemented his ethereal and misunderstood persona. This role showcased how long hair Johnny Depp could enhance a character's depth and mystery.
Captain Jack Sparrow: The Pirate with Flowing Locks
One of Johnny Depp's iconic roles is Captain Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series. Sparrow's long, dreadlocked hair symbolised his rebellious and unpredictable nature. The character's look, complete with beads and trinkets woven into his hair. was a collaboration between Depp and the film's costume designers. This style became iconic and influenced fashion trends and Halloween costumes worldwide.
Other Memorable Characters
Depp's long hair has also been featured in other roles, such as Ichabod Crane in "Sleepy Hollow" (1999). and Roux in "Chocolat" (2000). In these films, his hair added a layer of authenticity and depth to his characters. proving that Johnny Depp with long hair is more than a style—it's a storytelling tool.
Off-Screen Influenc
The Fascinating World of Bats: Unveiling the Secrets of the Nightthomasard1122
The Fascinating World of Bats: Unveiling the Secrets of the Night
Bats, the mysterious creatures of the night, have long been a source of fascination and fear for humans. With their eerie squeaks and fluttering wings, they have captured our imagination and sparked our curiosity. Yet, beyond the myths and legends, bats are fascinating creatures that play a vital role in our ecosystem.
There are over 1,300 species of bats, ranging from the tiny Kitti's hog-nosed bat to the majestic flying foxes. These winged mammals are found in almost every corner of the globe, from the scorching deserts to the lush rainforests. Their diversity is a testament to their adaptability and resilience.
Bats are insectivores, feeding on a vast array of insects, from mosquitoes to beetles. A single bat can consume up to 1,200 insects in an hour, making them a crucial part of our pest control system. By preying on insects that damage crops, bats save the agricultural industry billions of dollars each year.
But bats are not just useful; they are also fascinating creatures. Their ability to fly in complete darkness, using echolocation to navigate and hunt, is a remarkable feat of evolution. They are also social animals, living in colonies and communicating with each other through a complex system of calls and body language.
Despite their importance, bats face numerous threats, from habitat destruction to climate change. Many species are endangered, and conservation efforts are necessary to protect these magnificent creatures.
In conclusion, bats are more than just creatures of the night; they are a vital part of our ecosystem, playing a crucial role in maintaining the balance of nature. By learning more about these fascinating animals, we can appreciate their importance and work to protect them for generations to come. So, let us embrace the beauty and mystery of bats, and celebrate their unique place in our world.
Care Instructions for Activewear & Swim Suits.pdfsundazesurf80
SunDaze Surf offers top swimwear tips: choose high-quality, UV-protective fabrics to shield your skin. Opt for secure fits that withstand waves and active movement. Bright colors enhance visibility, while adjustable straps ensure comfort. Prioritize styles with good support, like racerbacks or underwire tops, for active beach days. Always rinse swimwear after use to maintain fabric integrity.
12. •a long distance traveled (over 14,000 miles)
•a lot of carbon dioxide emissions (27 pounds per shirt)
•10 ounces of waste produced, and
•33 kilowatt hours of energy expended
34. Recycling is what we do when we're out of
options to avoid, repair, or reuse the
product first. That's why I am so impressed
with Patagonia for starting its Common
Threads Initiative with the real solution:
Reduce: Don't buy what we don't need.
Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it.
Reuse: Share.
Then, only when you've exhausted those
options, recycle.
– Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff
It should come as no surprise that much of the clothing we purchase every year carries hidden environmental and social costs. A pair of organic cotton jeans, for example, leaves an 85-pound carbon footprint after its ten thousand mile journey from the field in India to the store in North America.
In attempting to make our wardrobe more GREEN, we will stick with the tried and true mantra: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle…But we must also take into consideration that there are “Three Legs of Sustainability”:Which includes Economy andSocial Equity in addition to Environment
Let’s start off by taking a look at how a simple t-shirt is made.Every cotton T-shirt starts life in a cotton field, most likely in China, India or the United States. It takes anywhere from 700 to 2,000 gallons of water to produce about a pound of conventional cotton – enough for a single T-shirt. Cotton grown in the United States uses comparatively less water; however, about a third of a pound of chemical pesticides and fertilizers go into each pound of conventionally-grown American cotton.
The harvested cotton bolls are shipped to a gin, where the fluff is separated from the seeds and pressed into bales. The gin is usually located in the same country where the cotton was grown. Ginning mills produce very fine dust that poses a significant breathing hazard to workers without proper ventilation and protective gear.
From the gin, the bales of cotton fibers go to a spinning facility, where they’re carded, combed, blended and twisted into yarn. Most spinning factories are located in China and India. Some will go on to be woven or knitted into sheets on site, while some will move the spun yarn to another facility for weaving.
At a mill, huge machines knit or weave the cotton yarn into sheets of fabric–but the cloth is rough and grayish—not T-shirt worthy just yet.
The gray cotton moves on for “wet” processing, where it’s treated with heat and chemicals to take on its final look and feel. In many Chinese textile mills, when dyes are rinsed off fabric the polluted wastewater ends up in local rivers, which change color according to the fashion of the season. Many dyes contain toxic chemicals which are hazardous to human health and the environment.At the final stage of wet processing, fabric is “finished” in order to make it softer, cleaner, smoother or better able to take on coloring. To this end, the fabric is washed, scoured, bleached, rinsed and sometimes dipped in acid. All these finishing processes require the use of chemicals, heat and water, and produce contaminated wastewater.
The finished cloth is sent (probably from somewhere in Asia) to a designer or directly to a garment factory (probably in Mexico) to be cut and stitched into a T-shirt.About 12 to 15 percent of the fabric will end up as scraps on the cutting room floor, depending on how the pattern is laid out.
The finished t-shirt makes its way from the garment factory to a brand name clothing company or to a trading company and from there—on the last leg of its multinational journey—the shirt is neatly stacked on a shelf at your local department store, clothing store, big box retailer or factory outlet. Yours for just $9.99. As is obvious, there are many opportunities for improvement throughout a t-shirt's pre-consumer life.
So what is the actual carbon footprint of clothing?There’s an app for that. The apparel company, Patagonia, has created a website tool called The Footprint Chroniclesfor that purpose.The handy online tool takes you around the globe, following each garment from start to finish, from design to fiber sourcing, spinning, sewing and distribution. In the case of a single cotton men's polo shirt, it all adds up to:
a long distance traveled (over 14,000 miles), a lot of carbon dioxide emissions (27 pounds per shirt), 10 ounces of waste produced (roughly the same weight of the shirt itself), and 33 kilowatt hours of energy expended. Wow.
This report does not mention the amount of water used, however one study in the UK estimated that if all of Britain’s 61 million residents (about 20 percent of the U.S. population) were to buy one recycled woolen garment, the nation would save 371 million gallons of water. That’s enough fresh water for more than 2 million people for a year.
Let’s take a look at the types of fabric that are used to create clothing.Textile-making is one of the most polluting industries in the world, partly because of the toll that growing cotton and making synthetic fibers takes on the environment, and partly because of outdated manufacturing methods used to dye and finish fabric. The Chinese textile industry, which produces about half the clothing Americans buy,creates about 3 billion tons of soot each year. At least 8,000 chemicals are used to turn raw materials into textiles and 25% of the world's pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton. This causes irreversible damage to people and the environment.
Synthetic fibers like acrylic, nylon, and polyester are derived from nonrenewable petroleum, and the manufacturing process can consume a lot of water and energy while generating global warming pollution. Avoid these fabrics when possible; if you need a material like fleece, choose one made from reclaimed/recycled fibers.
Natural fibers such as cotton, linen, wool, hemp, and silk are typically grown using a lot of water, fertilizer, and pesticide. Choose clothes made from fibers that meet U.S. Department of Agriculture organic standards for crop and livestock production, which can reduce the water and air pollution associated with these fabrics
Cellulosic fibers including bamboo, Tencel, and rayon are made from reconstituted plant and wood pulp. While the production process can be chemical- and energy-intensive, Tencel production minimizes toxic emissions by reusing solvent.Choosing clothes made from organic crops or sustainably managed forests can also help reduce these fabrics’ impact.
Reclaimed/recycled fibers can be a good option as they are made from materials that would typically end up in landfills: plastic bottles and tofu manufacturing waste (from soybeans), for example, can be made into fleece and “vegetable cashmere.” In addition, it takes about 70 percent less energy to make recycled polyester fiber than virgin fiber.
The Global Organic Textile Standard is a set of rules for ecological and socially responsible textile production. This comprehensive fiber certification has provisions to reduce the environmental impact of every stage of a fabric's production, from the harvesting of raw materials to the dyes, bleaches and processing agents used. Nordstrom, H&M, Banana Republic, Target,Levi’s and even Walmart are just some of the companies that are using GOTS certification for their organic products.
Clothing also has an ETHICAL COST.Large clothing companies produce apparel in 160 countries, often with shockingly low wages and horrible working conditions. Apparel workers in the free trade zones in El Salvador earn a whopping 56 cents an hour…….In Vietnam they earn 52 cents… in Bangladesh they earn 20 cents an hour.The clothing companies then export that apparel to 30 developed countries, like the United States and Canada.
The number of sweatshops in Mexico soared in the 1990s after NAFTA enticed companies to close their US operations and move south. As global manufacturing costs continued to shift, many companies then moved their operations from Mexico to even more attractive Asian countries. And more recently still, after the US-Jordan Free Trade agreement went into effect in 2000, the number of sweatshops in that country exploded as well. Between 2000 and 2005, apparel exports from Jordan to the US soared 2000 percent, often due to the round-the-clock labor of guest workers from poor Asian countries who were following the jobs as they moved. Here’s what’s kind of amazing: In Mexico’s apparel industry, economists found that doubling the pay of garment workers would add just $1.80 to the cost of a $100 men’s sports jacket, and a recent survey found that US consumers would be willing to pay $115 for the same jacket if they knew it had not been made under sweatshop conditions.” Living wages and reasonable working hours would not threaten companies’ overall profitability. No one should have to work 17-hour days just so Americans can save a few dollars on clothes.
What can you do?First of all, you can vote with your dollars. The spending choices we make help to support companies that treat workers fairly.Organizations such as these listed here are working to call upon retailers such as Wal-Mart, Disney and Niketo make public the list of factories producing its good around the world; to open those factories to monitors; to pay a living wage.
Another very important thing we can do is REDUCE overall clothing CONSUMPTIONThe average American owns between 19-22 items of clothing they’ll never wear. Impulse shopping is the common cause. Guilt over money wasted is the biggest reason for these items languishing in the closet. (Although keeping unworn clothing in your closet isn’t going to put that money back into your wallet).
It wasn’t always that way. In the early 1900s, the sewing machine had only been around for a half century and the production quality and fit of clothing that came off the assembly lines was not all that great. Ready-made dresses in the department stores were pricey – as much as $600 in today’s dollars. Most women made their own clothes or ordered them from a local dressmaker.By the 1950s the quality of ready-made fashions were within reach of the middle-class. America’s garment industry was the envy of the world and womenswear was its number one product. The Sears catalogue carried good quality dresses for as little as $72 (in today’s dollars). Women continued to sew at home.
Fast forward fifty years and the price of mass-market fashion has plummeted, as the garment industry has moved to lower wage countries. We now only make 3% of our apparel in the United States, down from 90% in 1955. The prices of these imports are so low that we have long since abandoned our sewing machines and deserted our dressmakers. Our clothes have also become increasingly casual and simplified, another reason for lower price tags.
As clothes have become cheaper, our clothing consumption has gone through the roof. In 1930, the average American woman owned an average of nine outfits. Today, we each buy more than 60 pieces of new clothing on average per year. Our closets are larger and more stuffed than ever, as we’ve traded quality and style for low prices and trend-chasing. In the face of these irresistible deals, our total spending on clothing has actually increased, from $7.82 billion spent on apparel in 1950 to $375 billion today. As a result, stores like H&M, Zara, and Wal-Mart — all discounters who sell low-quality clothing — are now the most powerful clothing brands in America.Fashion seasons are short, yet growing seasons are long. Manufacturing to specifications on the short notice that has become typical leads to careless mistakes in production as well as hindering eco-smart production scheduling, such as running similar colors on the same day. Further, when the garments fail to sell, millions of tons of useful, high-quality materials—even organic cotton—end up getting dumped in landfills or incinerated. the age of cheap fashion, when low prices and rapid turnover of styles have ignited out-of-control clothing consumptionWe have become addicted to cheap clothing.
Maybe the greenest thing you can do for your wardrobe is buy fewer clothes. But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to have any fun. Here are a few ways to green what you’ve got, and get green what you don’t. Focus on investingin, rather than just consuming, clothing that is durable, locally made and multi-purpose. Concentrate on essential items that can be combined with each other and with accessories to create a variety of looks. Choose quality pieces and consider them an investment, to be used, to be extremely functional, and to last through time and trends.
Uniform Project was started in 2009 by a young woman who came up with an unusual creative challenge;to wear the same dress for an entire year–but,and this is where the real challenge came in, she’d have to make it look unique every single day.She also vowed to make the challenge more meaningful by turning it into a fundraiser to send less fortunate kids to school. Everything was built around the Little Black Dress or LBD. The key is accessories…
Link to video: http://vimeo.com/11113046
Another eco-friendly wardrobe concept is UPCYCLING.Upcycling means getting creative and making something new out of something that is no longer of use.This woman made a commitment to create a whole year’s worth of outfits by upcycling old dresses AND all of the original dresses had to cost less than one dollar. It was an ambitious project and she came up with some pretty clever solutions!In fact, sewing is making a comeback.
“Sewing Rebellion” is a group that has chapters spring up all over the country – people who are learning how to repair their clothing in an effort to reduce consumer waste. Websites with names like “Sew Chic” “Sew Liberated” and “Sew Retro” are sweeping the internet as well as a plethora of YouTube videos. Books like “The Sweater Crop Shop” are flying off the shelves.For some…upcycling is an art unto itself……!
This woman in Brooklyn, NY has been making these amazing coats from old sweaters for twenty years. She has made thousands of them and they tend to sell out as soon as she posts them online. They average about $300 each. Each coat uses about 20 sweaters.
But not all clothing manufacturers are from the dark side. Patagonia, the Californian apparel company, last month launched an initiative encouraging their customers to reduce, repair, reuse, and recycle their clothing and equipment. Their ad even features the line: "Reduce what you buy," in bold caps, much like something out of an anti-capitalism rally. As part of its Common Threads scheme, Patagonia offers to repair its clothes (for a "reasonable" fee) on a 10-day turnaround. It also will help you sell its clothes via an eBay channel or at Patagonia.com. Common Threads Initiative commercial: http://video.patagonia.com/video/Common-Threads-Initiative-2There’s a reason that ‘recycling’ comes last in the mantra: Reduce, Repair, Reuse, Recycle.
Recycling is what we do when we're out of options to avoid, repair, or reuse the product first. That's why I am so impressed with Patagonia for starting its Common Threads Initiative with the real solution:Reduce: Don't buy what we don't need. Repair: Fix stuff that still has life in it. Reuse: Share. Then, only when you've exhausted those options, recycle.– Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff
Patagonia isn’t the only one.REI features a line of clothing they call ecoSensitive to describe their use of high percentage of recycled, renewable, and organic fibersPolartec uses the term Eco-engineered to describe the blend of renewable wool with recycled polyesterSears sells this suit made from recycled plastic bottlesAnd North Face sells this jacket made from recycled fleece.
You can also use recycled cotton to insulate your home.Yep - Home insulation is available that is made from 90 percent post-consumer recycled denim and cotton fibers.It uses less energy to manufacture than traditional insulation, contains no fiberglass or formaldehyde, and doesn’t off-gas.The cotton industry’s “From Blue to Green” campaign showed that consumers are eager to recycle when it collected more than 40,000 pairs of old jeans in 2010. These were used to make insulation that was then donated to community housing projects
When you simply cannot reuse or repair your clothing – what do you do with it?Sadly, of the textiles that consumers discard, only about 15-30% are donated to thrift stores.The rest is sent to landfills, making it the fastest growing component of waste in the household waste stream. Within the last five years, textiles disposed of in landfill sites have risen from 7% to 30%.How long does polyester take to decompose? Unfortunately, like bad fashion, it simply will not go away. Estimates for a more complete breakdown of polyester seem to range from 20 to 200 years, given various conditions.So the most logical thing to do…is DONATE IT!
Consignment and second-hand stores such as Goodwill, are more than happy to take your old clothes as well as other used items. These stores are not only a perfect place to take your old stuff, they are an awesome place to BUY stuff. Buying pre-owned clothing reduces the demand for new clothing – it reduces consumption and the associated waste and harm to the environment caused by the production of new clothing.Mary Anspaugh is the manager of the Goodwill here in Clinton and Mary is here to fill us in on what makes Goodwill great!Then, after we hear from Mary, we will present a very special and fun fashion show featuring some of the terrific garments you can find at places like Goodwill.