Resting the case for innovation.
“Globalization presumes sustained economic growth. Otherwise, the process loses its economic benefits and political support.” (P. Samuelson). There is an evident illogic, impossibility, of the traditional 'economic growth' lemma.
The Guardian Sustainable Business & Observer Ethical Awards 2012 edition in fashion terms. Cradle to Cradle is becoming popular in the nitty gritty of the carpet industry, Puma's Profit and Loss Accounts get credit, and Kids imitate Katherin Hamnett's 1980's slogan T-shirts to raise awareness.
“Innovatively combining new British and sustainable fabrics with reclaimed textiles” – this is Goodone’s raison d’etre in their own words. Their most recent initiative: A proper upcycling factory that can cope with both, pre- and post-consumer waste, and is the first ‘streamlined’ upcycling facility equipped and ready to work with designers on something more than one-offs.
Cradle to Cradle is a design methodology that puts a 'waste-less' world at its heart. What is the concept all about? What does it mean for the apparel industry? And who practises it among designers and companies?
The most recent event in the 'Perspectives on Future Sustainable Design' series highlighted the progress made in developing sustainable design approaches. Both, from a theoretical as well as from a systemic point of view. A summary.
Connecting the present and the past, learning and drawing conclusions from either, is and will remain key to creating a more sustainable fashion industry. So far, learning from the past in particular - in the good and in the bad - has been chiefly neglected. A series of thoughts.
Cotton as an attractive alternative in tsunami regions. Leading textile manufacturers promoting the cultivation of organic cotton. New technologies and methods for natural dyeing processes and recycling. And five categories of Green Fashion in Japan.
Scientists, engineers, designers and creators. 3 'species' of people that neither in academia, nor in industry collaborate well. Yet, precisely the fashion and textiles industry is so trans-disciplinary that collaboration is a must.
The RITE and Made-By annual conferences 2011 pinpointed the importance of supply chain ownership. A trans-disciplinary group of speakers introduced ongoing activities in their respective specialities, and illustrated the positive impact of collaboration.
Natural Dyes in large scale industrial processes sounds like a complete 'No Go'. Tintoreria Clerici - one of the oldest and biggest in the business - is going back to their roots, and proving us all wrong.
Visiting the Paris fashion trade fairs raises once again the eternal question: When if bad design is omnipresent, why is it that ethical fashion is blamed more frequently than others? Some insights.
In the retail gazette’s article ‘Fashion retailers work towards green future’, dating from August 19th 2011, the following was quoted...
Laces have been a firm part of haute-couture since the medieval, and the fabric still is, and always has been, a luxury product. The StGall exhibition in Switzerland pays tribute to 800 years of lace work featuring the best of European textile artisanry and technology.
Could it be that a a precipitate green revolution in design and fashion is taking place? PPR is ready “to jump on the sustainable fashion bandwagon.” But how do we define responsibility?
Sustainability for Fashion := "Creating desirable products guided by principles that consider sustainability as a core component of the process. [...]"
Sustainability for Fashion := "Creating desirable products that evoke an emotional connection [...]"
A phenomenon: National borders segregate markets. Ethical fashion brands don't know much about what is happening abroad.
2nd of 2 part posts, incl. event listing.
Is Japan ready for ethical fashion?
We suffer from a strictly hierarchical fashion industry. Insights from a conversation with a top leaders for ethical lifestyle in Japan.
A phenomenon: National borders segregate markets. Ethical fashion brands don't know much about what is happening abroad.
1st of 2 part posts, incl. event listing.
Sustainable fashion design := sourcing and production that do not pollute through the process of manufacture and do not deplete non-renewable resources.
