Tumgik
#textile industry
horselessheadperson · 7 months
Text
LITANY AGAINST FAST FASHION: A SHORT GUIDE
2 disclaimers:
I'm not an expert, these are just my ideas. The more you can add on or correct the better, please reblog
The first responsibility in fixing these issues (there are many, it's not a single problem with a single solution) lies with the people making the big money off of this. If you feel like you already have a system for making clothing and textiles work for *you* and you don't feel up to changing anything, that's absolutely fine and you should feel good about yourself for finding something that works.
Having said that, here's the main problem as I see it:
DUE TO FAST FASHION, WE'VE ALREADY PRODUCED ENOUGH TEXTILE/GARMENTS TO LAST US FOR GENERATIONS
The term "fast fashion" really comes from the rapid circulation of collections high street brands go through. H&M famously advertises they have "something new every time you visit", you can always find new pyjamas at Primark, Pull & Bear prints new shitty tshirts every day. Obviously, not all of those clothes actually sell well and then continue to get worn until they are absolutely beyond repair. Most of those garments end up in landfills. Even the stuff that sells usually doesn't survive past a couple uses and gets thrown out.
=> What can I do in the face of this?
Cherish every bit of textile you have. Even dishcloths. Remember even though sewing machines exist every label, hem, and embroidery is hand-crafted onto your bit of fabric. Was it under $50? Then it's likely someone suffered to bring this to you. This is obviously not your fault and this is not meant to inspire personal guilt, but it might inform the way you handle fabrics. Wash something instead of throwing it out whenever you can and follow the instructions on the label. Choose the right kind of fabric for your needs so you don't have to continuously get new stuff.
Learn how to repair and/or alter stuff. This is a big one HOWEVER I feel like this advice is often thrown around without mentioning that a lot of clothing these days isn't made to be repaired. Some socks are so thin and flimsy they won't take to darning and some shoes aren't meant to be cobbled. Most hems don't have enough spare fabric to lengthen a pair of trousers these days. Once you learn about these techniques though you'll be able to more or less tell which is which before buying. I feel confident in my repairing abilities now so I only buy clothing that's sturdy enough to take a few repairs. Again, if that's above price range, don't feel bad.
BUY SECONDHAND. This is the single best piece of advice anyone can give to avoid the fast fashion trap. Always look for a secondhand option - charity shops, bespoke vintage stores, refurbished design, heck, even ebay. Buy something that has already been through circulation and don't add to the demand for new products. The way quality has declined over the last ten years, this also means you'll likely get much higher quality.
Learn to make your own stuff. This is basically a last resort as it's costly and takes a lot of effort and resources. If you're at all interested in fashion though, it's very much worth it to at least look into one or two fabric arts to pick up on the side. You'll have full control over the materials, cut, size, and finish of the garments you make yourself. If nothing else doing this will help you appreciate how much a piece of fabric or a garment is really worth in terms of labour and expertise.
Wear a piece of clothing until you can't repair it any longer. Then, turn it into rags or use it as scrap material for small projects if you do any crafts. After that, donate or re-sell what you can. No, not everything that's donated gets sold, but it's still the most responsible way to get rid of textile products you don't need anymore.
Buying more expensive garments isn't always better. I've had €500 shoes that went bust after two wears and I've had cheap tshirts that lasted for years. When you need a longer lasting item, say, a coat or a pair of boots - do some research, check second hand options, and stay critical. Don't buy based on brand. A good example is Doc Martens, whose boots have famously more or less gone to shit the past 5 or so years.
Remember, fashion is both a verb and a noun. Enjoy!
47 notes · View notes
umabloomer · 5 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Women and children sewing, doing piece work, at home and in sweatshops, early 20th century.
From New York Public Library Archives
18 notes · View notes
bumblebeeappletree · 2 months
Text
youtube
Every week, Eco India brings you stories that inspire you to build a cleaner, greener and better tomorrow.
Dye-infused effluent worsens India's water crisis. A fabric workshop and chemical firm in Gujarat have some ideas — from harvesting rainwater to bio-remediation via canna — and using sustainable pigments.
***********
Credits
Supervising Producer: Nooshin Mowla
Field Producer & Script: Aadya Baoni
Video Editor: Richard Kujur Associate Producer: Ipsita Basu
Director of Photography: Paul Varghese
DoP Asst: Vivek Bhaya
Production Assistant & Script: Aakriti Thatal
Executive Producer: Sannuta Raghu
10 notes · View notes
sidewalkchemistry · 1 year
Text
Fast fashion wants to produce fast. So, the garment worker has to produce faster. And cheap. The garment worker is the only point of the supply chain where the margin is squeezed...But also, from the consumer point of view, is it really democratic to buy a t-shirt for $5 and a pair of jeans for $20? Or are they taking us for a ride? Because they are making us believe that we are rich or wealthy because we can buy a lot. But, in fact, they're making us poorer. And the only person who is becoming richer is the owner of the fast fashion brand.
- Livia Firth in The True Cost - The Truth of the Clothing Industry
17 notes · View notes
arctic-hands · 4 months
Text
I know "there's no ethical consumption under capitalism" has become an excuse instead of something that should radicalize you, but it's incredibly infuriating that I can't even buy a pack of new underwear from the one brand that doesn't give me an allergic reaction from their elastic without worrying I'm funding the exploitation of child migrant "workers" in their U.S factories, and does it even matter because almost every other cheap underwear brand most likely is manufactured in factories overseas that are equally exploiting children and their labor force as a whole
4 notes · View notes
earaercircular · 5 months
Text
Unsold clothing may no longer be destroyed in Europe
Tumblr media
More than 100,000 tons of discarded clothing ends up in a desert in Chile
Europe is putting a stop to the throw-away culture through a ban on destruction[1] and a digital product passport with information about shelf life and repairability. No more mass destruction of clothing and other unsold merchandise.[2]
Every second in Europe, a full garbage truck of clothing is burned or dumped[3]. And every year, an estimated 11 to 32 million unsold and returned garments are destroyed. Europe has been wanting to reduce this gigantic waste for some time. The European Member States and the European Parliament reached an agreement to this end on Monday evening 4-12: Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation[4]. The aim of the 'eco design law' is to make many products more repairable, reusable and recyclable. A product passport and a ban on destruction of unused goods are the key measures.
1. What is a digital product passport?
Consumers are already somewhat familiar with this: the energy label on refrigerators and washing machines gives an indication of their sustainability. That label (or product passport) has had an enormous impact on making those appliances more energy efficient.
The European Parliament and the EU member states now have an agreement to roll out the digital passport more widely and to deepen its content. First of all, almost all products on the European market will have to have such a passport: from car tires and steel to washing tablets and cosmetics to clothing or smartphones. The only exceptions are food, medicine, cars and weapon systems, for which there are separate regulations.
In addition to any energy consumption, the passport also contains information about the origin, composition, repair and disassembly options of the product. This should also make it easier to repair and recycle them. “People can know at a glance which product is the most durable or easiest to repair,” said MEP Sara Matthieu (Green), who was rapporteur in the negotiations.
2. What does the ban on destruction mean?
Initially, the ban applies to textiles. Globally, 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually. A large portion of these are returned or unsold goods. In two years' time, they may no longer be destroyed, but must be reused or recycled. This ban will eventually be extended to electronics and electrical appliances. Massive quantities of these are also destroyed every year, especially cheaper items that are not sold or have been returned to the manufacturer.
The new rule goes hand in hand with stricter requirements for composition, repairability and disassembly of goods. The details will be worked out product by product by the European administration, but some guiding principles are a ban on adhesives, the absence of toxic substances, the obligation to have spare parts available and, above all, to offer them at an affordable price. The passport should eventually lead to a 'repair score', comparable to the energy label.
Matthieu (Green) expects a huge impact on the consumer market. 'Instead of offering disposable products for mass consumption, companies will offer many more services through robust devices. So to speak, you will no longer buy a washing machine, but an number of wash cycles.'
3. How comprehensive are the measures?
That depends on the control. The product passport is also an important instrument for this. Europe is counting on the famous 'Brussels effect': foreign producers will have to adapt their products if they want to maintain access to the gigantic European consumer market. Although the European consumer organisation BEUC[5] warns against loopholes. The organisation mainly sees a risk that international online platforms such as Amazon or Alibaba will circumvent the new law.
4. Is this agreement now final?
It has already rounded the most important cape. The agreement was finalised in the so-called trialogue negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Council and the Commission. Now it must be approved by Parliament and the Member States, but that counts as a formality.
Source
Lieven Sioen, Onverkochte kledij mag niet meer vernietigd worden in Europa, in: De Standaard, 6-12-2023, https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20231205_96579697#:~:text=In%20eerste%20instantie%20is%20het,ze%20hergebruikt%20of%20gerecycleerd%20worden.
[1]  Deal on new EU rules to make sustainable products the norm; https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20231204IPR15634/deal-on-new-eu-rules-to-make-sustainable-products-the-norm
[2] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/722179599996534784/towards-a-circular-and-more-sustainable-fashion?source=share
[3] Read also: https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/723895455727157248/new-report-clothes-are-mercilessly-downcycled-or?source=share & https://www.tumblr.com/earaercircular/720260226679488512/hms-answer-about-the-dumped-clothes-article?source=share
[4] The proposal for a new Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), published on 30 March 2022, is the cornerstone of the Commission’s approach to more environmentally sustainable and circular products. The proposal builds on the existing Ecodesign Directive, which currently only covers energy-related products. https://commission.europa.eu/energy-climate-change-environment/standards-tools-and-labels/products-labelling-rules-and-requirements/sustainable-products/ecodesign-sustainable-products-regulation_en
[5] The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC, from the French name Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs, "European Bureau of Consumers' Unions") is an umbrella consumers' group, founded in 1962. Based in Brussels, Belgium, it brings together 45 European consumer organisations from 32 countries (EU, EEA and applicant countries). BEUC represents its members and defends the interests of consumers in the decision process of the Institutions of the European Union, acting as the "consumer voice in Europe". BEUC does not deal with consumers’ complaints as it is the role of its national member organisations.
3 notes · View notes
Text
Navigating the Threads of Change: Sustainable Textile Practices Transforming the Fashion Industry
In an era of heightened environmental awareness, the textile industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by a growing commitment to sustainability. These practices might get started right from the design process. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the practices that are changing the textile industry trends and can bring a revolutionary change.
||Re-thinking Raw Materials: A Shift towards Eco-Friendly Choices||
At the heart of sustainable textile practices lies a re-evaluation of materials used in the production process. Traditional textiles often rely on resource-intensive materials such as conventional cotton, which is notorious for its heavy use of pesticides and water.
Sustainable alternatives, for example, organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp, have emerged as eco-friendly options that minimize the environmental impact. Organic cotton, for instance, is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, promoting soil health and reducing harm to nearby ecosystems.
||Recycled Materials: Closing the Loop and Reducing Waste||
One noteworthy development in sustainable practices is the rise of recycled materials. Post-consumer waste, including discarded plasticized objects and other textile scraps, is being repurposed to create new products. This not only diverts waste from landfills but also mitigates the demand for new materials, contributing to a more circular and sustainable system.
||Slow Fashion: A Counterbalance to Fast Fashion's Disposable Culture||
Furthermore, these sustainable initiatives are closely tied to the concept of slow fashion. This movement advocates for a shift away from the fast-paced, disposable nature of the industry, encouraging consumers to invest in high-quality, timeless pieces that endure through seasons.
||Revolutionizing Manufacturing: Waterless Dyeing and Plant-Based Alternatives||
Beyond the choice of raw materials, these practices extend to the manufacturing processes employed by many best textile industries. The conventional dyeing and finishing of textiles involve the use of numerous harmful chemicals that not only pose risks to the environment but also to the workers involved in the production process. Therefore, the use of natural alternatives can change the whole scenario of attaining sustainability.
||Current scenario towards sustainability||
Major fashion brands are recognizing the importance of sustainability and are following these principles into their business models. From creating sustainable materials into their collections to adopting transparent and ethical supply chain practices, these top textile companies are driving positive change within the industry.
Yet, the shift towards sustainable textile practices is not without its challenges. The initial costs associated with sustainable materials and processes can be higher, posing financial obstacles for some manufacturers. However, as consumer demand for eco-friendly products continues to rise, economies of scale and increased innovation are expected to drive costs down, making sustainability practices more accessible for all.
||Conclusion||
In conclusion, sustainable textile practices are setting a new narrative for the industry, one that prioritizes environmental stewardship, ethical practices, and long-term viability. The threads of change are being woven into the fabric of fashion, stitching together a more sustainable and conscious future for all.
2 notes · View notes
aquitainequeen · 2 years
Text
As fashion statements go, Ugandan-based designer Bobby Kolade’s new collection is as bold as they come.
The mish mash of stitched-together panels holds an unequivocal message, one that’s printed loud and clear on the label of his one-off garments: ‘Return to sender. Materials sourced from secondhand clothes from the global north.’
Kolade’s first collection under his Buzigahill brand is made up entirely of clothes sent to Uganda for ‘recycling’ by countries like the US and UK. Repurposed and refashioned by Kolade’s six-strong team, Buzigahill is sending them back to where they came from.
“We feel there’s a kind of clothing dictatorship, coming from the global north to us,” said Kolade. “By sending things back, we are responding with a clear, proud message: we’re not just the dumping ground. We have the potential to produce, we have the potential to create.”
40 notes · View notes
bopinion · 1 year
Text
Tumblr media
2022 / 52
Aperçu of the Week:
"Let he who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her."
(Jesus Christ according to John, chapter 8)
Bad News of the Week:
A remarkable shift to the right is currently taking place in Israel, of all places. And not in dim backyards, but in the political spotlight. The day before yesterday, the Knesset gave its blessing to Benjamin Netanyahu's government. An immortal reincarnation of political Israel, he became prime minister for the first time back in 1996 and is the subject of various criminal proceedings, including those for corruption and taking advantage of office.
Now, out of pure will to survive, he has formed a governing coalition that is so ultra-right that even Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog warns against its "extremism." And the opposition is sounding the alarm in view of the present coalition agreements: The new government is illiberal, homophobic and is undermining Israeli democracy with the planned judicial reform. Unfortunately, these accusations must be taken seriously.
Take religious fanaticism, for example: Government member Orit Strock of the right-wing "Religious Zionist Party" has declared that hotels should be allowed to refuse services to people on religious grounds. And even worse, doctors to treat patients if this is against their religious beliefs. This is supposed to be the most democratic state in the Middle East?
Speaking of states. Or rather, the two-state solution, for every normal-thinking person the only way to make peace possible between Israelis and Palestinians in the long term. That can now be safely stored, because gasoline is being poured on the fire with two personalities who both advocate the expansion of Israeli territory into the occupied West Bank. Itamar Ben-Gvir of the ultranationalist "Jewish Strenght" party, who has already been convicted of anti-Arab terrorism, will become security minister with responsibilities for the police. And Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the "Religious Zionist Party" and known, among other things, for his position "I am a proud homophobe." will be finance minister with control over "planning in the West Bank." He knows his stuff, after all his family lives outside the Kedumim settlement in the West Bank - in a house that was illegally built outside of state land and in breach of the settlement's master plan.
I find this more than just creepy. Do I, of all people, as a German, have to reproach a government of the State of Israel for denying human rights to a part of the population through extremism and discrimination? Yes, unfortunately I must.
Good News of the Week:
After a long run-up, the so-called Supply Chain Act is finally becoming mandatory in Germany. Initially applicable to large companies (with more than 3,000 employees, from 2024 it will apply to companies with more than 1,000), it is intended to significantly reduce abuses in foreign purchasing. The "Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains" obliges companies that procure intermediate goods or finished products abroad to take responsibility for production processes and working conditions at their suppliers, to trace abuses and to avoid or remedy them from the outset or as soon as they become aware of them.
This will be felt above all by the textile industry, which traditionally has its production carried out in low-wage countries with hardly any environmental requirements. And then washes its hands of this because the administrative staff in Germany is paid according to the collective wage agreement and there is a photovoltaic system on the warehouse. The law obliges every importer - including foreign companies that have a subsidiary or branch office in Germany - to ensure that defined standards are met throughout their supply chain. In future, anyone who tolerates child labor or environmental damage at their suppliers, for example, or simply looks the other way, will be asked to pay a hefty fine: Fines in the millions are envisaged. That's a good thing.
Personal happy moment of the week:
The day before yesterday was our first wedding anniversary. According to a widespread prejudice, only husbands forget this day. Not so with us. My wife had wondered before why I asked what we were going to do on this day. And although very happy about the flowers that were on the table in the morning, but still did not understand. Then around three o'clock in the afternoon the penny dropped. And I got it in writing, as she was just out for a walk: she says "Yes!" to us once again.
I couldn't care less...
...that Deutsche Post is discontinuing its "Telegram" service today. Why? Due to lack of demand, of course, because of the Internet. This means that some 170 years after the American E. P. Smith established the telegram in 1852, a form of communication long considered the fastest in the world is disappearing. The most recent price was at least 12.57 euros - for 160 characters. In the age of free messaging services, that no doubt explains the slump in demand. I even still have a telegram in one of my memory boxes in the basement: one of my French Canadian sisters had sent it to me from Italy in 1989 to coordinate my trip to see her - which I hitchhiked. Also such a dinosaur, which hardly exists anymore.
As I write this...
...2022 comes to an end. You can classify this year however you like - the adjective "normal" is certainly not one of them. And what people like to call "the new normal" (hot and cold wars, lack of action against climate change, threatened democracies, permanently higher energy and food prices, insecure human rights, etc.) is not something I feel like at all. In this respect, I find it hard to wish for more normality in the new year. Even if it is actually what I would like to have.
Post Scriptum
Serbia and Kosovo. The region in the Balkans, which even after the official end of the Yugoslav wars in 2001 is still not at peace. NATO peacekeepers are still stationed there today. The reason is still the same as it was from the beginning: minorities feel oppressed. In this case, in a double sense: Kosovo considers itself Albanian, its minority oppressed by Serbia, and has repeatedly declared its independence - now recognized by 115 of 193 UN members. But Serbia sees Kosovo as a breakaway province where a Serbian minority in the north is oppressed. The conflict flares up again and again; during the Christmas season, there were roadblocks in the Mitrovica area in response to Serb arrests by Albanian security forces.
Both countries see their future in the European Union. Serbia has been formally recognized as a candidate country since 2012, while Kosovo submitted its application only this December. And both can only move forward in this process together. In order to be admitted to the EU, the "Copenhagen criteria" must be met. These explicitly include respect for and protection of minorities. This is precisely the shortcoming that Serbia and Kosovo are accusing each other of. The European Union sees itself as a democratic entity that seeks to achieve peace and prosperity on the continent through cooperation and collaboration. Recognizing this would be a win-win for all parties.
2 notes · View notes
rimtexspinningcans · 9 hours
Text
0 notes
swan-energy · 8 days
Text
Textile Recycling: Transforming the Industry for Sustainability
Discover how textile recycling offers a sustainable solution to the environmental challenges facing the textile industry. Learn about innovative approaches, investment trends, and the potential for circularity to mitigate pollution and drive economic growth.
Accounting for a remarkable 2% of the world's GDP and employing millions worldwide, these sectors are integral to global development.
Yet, their operations contribute substantially to pollution, with alarming statistics highlighting their adverse effects on the environment. It produces 21 billion tonnes of trash, of which 20% is dye house wastewater effluent, 22 million tonnes of microfibres, and more than 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Read more...
1 note · View note
isotexglobal · 1 month
Text
Isotex Global Customer Testimonial | Sintex Industries
Isotex Global yields positive results for a textiles industries.
Sintex industries ltd., shares his experience with Isotex Corporation Pvt Ltd. and highlights its features of steam boiler - biomass briquettes.
Our customer testimonial for Isotex global at sintex industries.
0 notes
bumblebeeappletree · 1 month
Text
youtube
Every year, nearly 100 billion items of clothing are produced – and 65% of them end up in a landfill within 12 months. New technologies in textile recycling may be able to curb that waste – while producing a host of sustainable materials.
#planeta #recycling #fastfashion #circulareconomy #textileindustry
We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Our new channel Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world — and challenges our ideas about what dealing with climate change means. We look at the big and the small: What we can do and how the system needs to change. Every Friday we'll take a truly global look at how to get us out of this mess.
Follow Planet A on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dw_planeta?la...
Credits:
Report: Dave Braneck
Video Editor: Frederik Willmann
Supervising Editor: Michael Trobridge
Fact Check: Alexander Paquet
Thumbnail: Ém Chabridon
Read More:
McKinsey - Scaling Textile Recycling in Europe
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/r...
NY Times - Will We Ever Be Able to Recycle Our Clothes Like an Aluminum Can?
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/st...
EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles https://environment.ec.europa.eu/stra...
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:46 Textile waste's global impact
02:47 How do you actually recycle clothes?
03:50 New approaches to textile recycling
07:41 What else needs solving?
11:41 Can we even recycle all the clothes we make?
6 notes · View notes
sidewalkchemistry · 1 year
Text
The sheer amount of cheap clothing, even though people feel perhaps somehow that they're off-setting by giving to charity. You know, the journey of a t-shirt donated to charity is unpalatable in itself...
I tell people to stop buying things that is not good, that is costing like $10...you just go to a store and buy yourself a dress for $10. Because, you go, "It cost $10. I don't need it." And you throw it away. And tomorrow, you're going to do the same thing over and over and over again.
- The True Cost - The Truth of the Clothing Industry
16 notes · View notes
Text
Your Window to the World of Textile and Clothing Industry
India's Leading B2B Publication and Online Portal serving the Textile, Apparel/Garment Industry with relevant news for more than 20 Years. - Clothing Industry
0 notes
tenth-sentence · 1 month
Text
As part of the group, Elizabeth Tomlinson and Sarah Kirkland travelled with Ann Carr around the textile industry villages of Nottingham and Derby, before moving on to Leeds, the centre of the West Riding woollen industry.
"Normal Women: 900 Years of Making History" - Philippa Gregory
0 notes