Author: Pamela Ravasio - Page 9 - Pamela Ravasio

The Classroom Approach: Teaching to Make A Difference in Fashion

July 11, 2013

To teach university-level fashion student about sustainability in the fashion industry is complicated. Not so much because of the topic itself, but rather because there are so many facets to it. Here we review 1 of 2 books created specifically for teaching.

Globalisation Labour Supply Chain

The Cost of Ethics in Apparel: A non-reason (Part 3 of 3)

July 5, 2013

How expensive is fair labour really? This article summarises selected research data to answer these questions. In short: fair labour could be had for cheap.

Labour Supply Chain

The Cost of Ethics in Apparel: A non-reason (Part 2 of 3)

June 20, 2013

How expensive is fair labour really? This article summarises research data to answer these questions. In short: fair labour could be had for cheap.

Consumer-ism Future Tech Supply Chain

Long-life elixir for the fashion industry? More durable clothing.

June 6, 2013

Mistra Future Fashion (MFF) is a 4-year research project (2011-2015), funded by the Swedish government via Mistra, the Foundation of Strategic Environmental Research. MFF has a very holistic approach that has the goal of supporting the industry to re-think their business models, design and industrial processes and promote consumer behaviour change.

Future Tech Materials

3D printing and fashion: Where are we at, what can we expect?

June 4, 2013

If there is an area of fashion that is truly pushing the boundaries of what is technically and style-wise possible, then it is Haut Couture. In January 2013 2 pieces among Iris van Harpenr’s 11-piece collection at Voltage show attracted the interested of fashionistas as much as product techies: The first ever wearable dresses created through a 3D printing process.

Consumer-ism Trade Shows

Sustainable Brands Istanbul: business is beautiful.

May 23, 2013

Last week I had the opportunity to speak at Sustainable Brands Istanbul about the risks and opportunities related to sustainability for textile and fashion businesses. Turkey is a key global producers of textile and garments and the export of these products account for roughly 20% of the country’s overall exports.

Biz Strategy Globalisation

Leadership for Sustainability: Same difference?

May 16, 2013

The world of sustainability in fashion has changed fundamentally in the last few years. In this article we look at qualities that leaders such as Patagonia's Yves Chouinard have, that make them the movers and shakers of the sustainability agenda in the industry at large.

Brand Review Supply Chain

What if 100% of your customers hated you?

May 15, 2013

2 weeks after the Rana Plaza’s disaster in Bangladesh, the death toll has risen to 921 and the fire broke in another garment factory last night killing 8. But how have these fashion brands reacted to, possibly, the worst known disaster in the history of the global apparel industry?

Circularity Globalisation Opinions

Better business models will be circular

May 4, 2013

Circular economy is the antonym of linear economy. Linear economy has been the dominant industrial model in our history and postulates production is followed by consumption that then ends up with the disposal of used products. As opposed to this, circular economy seeks to rebuild capital, whether this is financial, manufactured, human, social or natural and sees products having a longer or a never-ending life that are either re-used as new inputs to create new products or shared and co-owned by different consumers.

Globalisation Supply Chain

Sourcing Destinations: Nigeria – hot bed of opportunities or riddled with challenges?

May 1, 2013

Nigeria’s textile industry used to be – possibly still is – the African continent’s third largest after that of Egypt and South Africa. For one reason or another, the first two are fairly well established among brands of all colours and types as potential – and actual – sourcing destinations. Egyptian cotton is well renowned, as is their industry for jersey goods. Also ‘Made in South Africa’ is not uncommonly found in clothing labels.

Brand Review Materials Supply Chain

Better Business series: C&A

July 9, 2013

C&A, part of the Cofra Holding that owns C&A Europe, Brazil, Mexico and China, has been a family business since 1841. The company is quite conservative in communicating corporate responsibility achievements. Their style of communication appears to be more emotional than factual. The company has been awarded the Textile Exchange Future Shaper award in 2012 recognising the company’s commitment to promoting the analysis and certification of organic cotton and textiles.

Labour Opinions Supply Chain

Greenpeace’s Detox – developing the market for BlueSign, OekoTex STeP?

June 26, 2013

n the course of the last 2 years, the Greenpeace Detox campaign has repeatedly made waves. The latest such incident happened in the context of what is possibly the world’s most relevant trade fair for performance and outdoor wear ISPO in January 2014. At that point of time, Greenpeace released news that in the water repellent coatings of jackets by some renowned brands, traces of fluorin had been identified. And that said test results had been ‘hidden’ from the public.

Brand Review Materials Supply Chain

Better Business series – Nike

June 19, 2013

In the 1990s Nike was caught in a sweatshop scandal showing poor working conditions in the Asian factories of its suppliers. Today Nike wants to “bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world”. The evolution of the company’s mission is powerful because it adds meaning and purpose to its existence: from “produce”, to “help” to eventually “inspire and innovate”.

Handbook of sustainable textile production

Book Reviews Materials Supply Chain

Know thy facts: A handbook for textile sustainability practitioners

June 6, 2013

The textile supply and production chain is complex. With this in mind, the ‘Handbook of sustainable textile production‘ is a unique resources: bit fosters knowledge acquisition across the different disciplines and specialities in the textile production chain, it prepares the ground for a factual, holistic discourse, and dissemination of best practise.

Labour Supply Chain

The Cost of Ethics in Apparel: A non-reason (Part 1 of 3)

May 30, 2013

How expensive is fair labour really? What would need to change in the price to make this a reality at the consumer end of fast fashion? This article diggs through some research data that while answering these questions. In short: fair labour could be had for cheap.

Biz Strategy Globalisation Governance

80 : 20, 20 : 80: Impact of SMEs vs. Corporates

May 22, 2013

In Europe, SMEs make up 99% of all companies, and provide 67% of employment a much higher percentage of jobs in developing countries. Research has shown that they generate around 50% of the private sector’s turn over, and that SMEs contribute at least 80% to the national GDPs. Yet less than 20% of policies, government investments etc. are made with them in mind.

Circularity Materials Trade Shows

Performance Wear: Leading the way of innovation and development in textiles

May 15, 2013

Like its larger sister ISPO – normally taking place at the end of January or the beginning of February, half way between the two Fashion Week cycles – Performance Days feature a high-end portfolio of performance and sports wear manufacturers, many of which actively develop and push the innovation agenda of their industry.

Governance Labels Supply Chain

To Trust or Not To Trust is the question: Certification Authorities

May 9, 2013

Not all is well with certification labels and their respective audit authorities. Self-audits, peer-audits, frauds are just the top of the iceberg. It's more - economics suggest we're going wrong with them entirely ...

Brand Portraits Materials

The Huguenots – spiritual fathers of ‘Made in Britain’

May 2, 2013

The British textile industry, chances are, never would have reached its former pre-offshoring movement glory if it was not for immigrants. In fact, if it had not been for the Huguenot influence on silk weaving – and by means of cross-fertilisation, cotton and wool – the industry would have served a pure domestic purpose for the 18th, 19th and first half of the 20th century.

Globalisation Governance

UK House of Lords and sustainable fashion – The debate continued

April 25, 2013

The first question time discussion in the House of Lords on the topic of sustainable fashion took place on March 3rd, 2011. On March 19th 2013, nearly 2 years later to the day, the 2nd edition took place, again initiated by Baroness Lola Young from Hornsey. The summary

Future Fit Industries of 'Stuff': Governance, Responsibility, and the Age of Doughnut Economics