Yesterday I handed in my Contextual studies essay in - a satisfying feeling to have it finished with. My subject matter was primarily about how Iconic textile designer Zandra Rhodes is trying to contribute towards championing sustainable fashion? Ms Rhodes over the last few years has been working collaboratively with a company headed by Safia Minney called People Tree and they are designing and manufacturing affordable clothes made from organically grown cotton. http:/www.peopletree.co.uk/
In recent years the move towards recycling and general awareness about global impacts re sustainability is growing. But we definitely live in a disposable culture and today clothes, everyday household items and even furnishings can be purchased very cheaply and its considered quite normal to have overflowing wardrobes and to change furniture and decor on a regular basis. But this has a cost and that cost may seem a long way off in everyday matters but it is there - and the processes undertaken to grow, farm, design, manufacture, package, distribute and retail the objects of our d desire have a definte imapct on the world we live in . And... thats before we look at disposal of the bought worn, used, liked, loved and then disliked, unnfashionable and unloved subsquently discarded objects.
Just look at these facts... not too boring and worth a read...
“ every year European consumers discard 5.8 million tons of textiles of which 1.5 million tons are recycled locally through charity shops, I million tons are exported to the developing world. 50,000 tons are recycled into rags while the other two thirds are burnt or put in landfill” (Colchester 2007 pge 23)
In recent years the move towards recycling and general awareness about global impacts re sustainability is growing. But we definitely live in a disposable culture and today clothes, everyday household items and even furnishings can be purchased very cheaply and its considered quite normal to have overflowing wardrobes and to change furniture and decor on a regular basis. But this has a cost and that cost may seem a long way off in everyday matters but it is there - and the processes undertaken to grow, farm, design, manufacture, package, distribute and retail the objects of our d desire have a definte imapct on the world we live in . And... thats before we look at disposal of the bought worn, used, liked, loved and then disliked, unnfashionable and unloved subsquently discarded objects.
Just look at these facts... not too boring and worth a read...
“ every year European consumers discard 5.8 million tons of textiles of which 1.5 million tons are recycled locally through charity shops, I million tons are exported to the developing world. 50,000 tons are recycled into rags while the other two thirds are burnt or put in landfill” (Colchester 2007 pge 23)
Cotton remains the principle raw material used
today in the textile industry and its production is considered to cause
significant damage as it is one of the most pesticide intensive crops on the
market. (Colchester 2007 pg 24)
According to Colchester (2007) one single t shirt can require 1/3 lb of
chemicals for its production. 2.4% of
land is given over to cotton production and this alone is currently responsible
for 25% of the chemical industry market. These chemicals damage the environment by
getting into the eco system, the water systems and consequently cause long term
irreversible damage - in some cases death.
It is estimated that up to 20,000 workers die per year as a result of
pesticide linked disease.
We need to be aware and think about what we buy and how it fits into not only our lives but its short and long term impact globally and whether or not it affects the legacy we are leaving future generations. Think before you splash the ecash and at the very least try and recycle the unwanted goods as the saying goes ''one mans rubbish is another mans treasure''.
Comments
Post a Comment