Interface Carpets

The current textile industry is based on economics many are sceptical and assume sustainable design cannot be economical. However, sustainable business can also be economic business; the two can work together and businesses and manufacturers need to see this to be encouraged to be part of this change. Interface Carpets is on its way to becoming one of the first billion dollar corporation to be carbon zero by 2020, whilst producing good quality and on trend design. Its first step in 1995 was to eliminate excess waste and this was shown to be economically viable “We have calculated $372 million in cumulative avoided waste cost from 1995 to 2007.” (http://www.interfaceglobal.com

/Sustainability/Progress-to-Zero.aspx). 

Interview with Modern Humanity

Here's a link to our recent interview with Jenn Viane from Modern Humanity for socialbusiness.org

With a cover image from Emma Lidstone, one of the students who worked on our Sandur x Falmouth project

Disappearing Dresses - Helen Storey and Tony Ryan

Ok, so science and technology haven't played a huge part in the THREAD's article history but we're going to change that and here is the first step!

And also, I know this isn't a particularly recent story but it is very interesting one. I was reminded of it by last week's episode of 'The Life Scientific' on Radio 4 in which Professor Tony Ryan discussed his work with Nanotechnology, including his collaborations with Professor Helen Storey to create dissolving dresses and catalytic clothing.

Storey approached Ryan with the problem of waste in fashion; the resulting research and collaborative work culminated in the creation (and destruction) of garments which dissolved when immersed in water. Ryan explains how the public reacted to the exhibiton of these at a shopping centre in Sheffied:

'They asked us, " Why are you destroying these beautiful things?"
Which allowed us to ask them, "What do you think happens when you go shopping?"'

Watch the video, by Nick Knight, here

Fashion Futures 2025

I first came across this research from Forum for the Future at the Fashioning an Ethical Industry Conference two years ago. They've continued to develop with project, run in partnership with Levi Strauss & Co and London College of Fashion, and have now launched educational resources for students and teachers.


Fashion Futures 2025 is designed as a call to view the future of the industry; to designers really get thinking about how the industry is going to evole and the part sustainability will come to play.
It involves the generation of four potential scenarios of the fashion world in 2025, four outlooks generated by looking at trends as they are today and created in collaboration with industry insiders and through indepth research. The idea is not to dictate or predict exactly but to explore the potential for development and to inspire and inform the next generation of designers.

Watch their outcomes here

Alongside their original project there is now a YouTube Channel with videos exploring issues of fashion, sustainability and climate change.

NEW WORK UPLOADED

CHECK OUT THE WORK IN PROGRESS FROM THE FALMOUTH GIRLS!!!!!!

http://sandurxfalmouth.blogspot.com/

Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra / University College Falmouth

 Check out our collaboration between Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra (SKKK) and University College Falmouth!

http://sandurxfalmouth.blogspot.com/

Lambani stitches have been used by the women in India for many many generations, but sadly there are less and less people leaning these skills- the women feel they have no worth and do not want to pass on the tradition. SKKK is an organisation trying to keep these women in work and the skill alive. We have collaborated with them to give them designs for the western market and to play around with other materials. The aim is to encourage the local women by showing them that their skill most definitely has a worth and giving the organisation new designs.



It is all very exciting!

FASHION REACTION

‘ The second annual festival of FREE DIY workshops to remake / recycle / reimaging / reinvent clothes and our relationship to them.’

I stumbled across this 6 part series of workshops that took place at JEM fabric store in SoHo … http://houseofjem.blogspot.com/ Organised and lead by Michael DiPietro, a Parsons fashion graduate with a passion for Bargello Needlepoint and Sustainability.