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.

Forum for the Future

Forum for the future. 12th September 2011, New York.

Action for a Sustainable World…

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/sustainable-business-event-new-york

Forum for the Future is a non for profit organisation that works with businesses and has been doing so for over 15 years.
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/
This year they collaborated with the Guardian Sustainable Business http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business
To host an expert panel discussion, Q&A and group discussions. The panel was made up of Ian Yolles Chief sustainability officer, Recyclebank; Freya Williams Senior partner, director of strategy, Ogilvy Earth; Sally Uren Deputy chief executive, Forum for the Future and Jeffrey Hollender Co-Founder Seventh Generation, sustainability author and activist.

The role of brands as change agents is growing rapidly. Brands can have more power than any international organisation by sheer force of the number of people they touch. With that power comes responsibility – and the potential for brands to act as agents of transformative change.

Here are my bite size notes on the topics of the evening!

Inspired to consumed!

With a difference

After attending Juliet Schor’s talk on connected consumption I started thinking about how much I consume. In 2007 the average American shopped for 67 items of clothing, today I am not sure but am looking for the number and will get back to you but I am sure it has increased tremendously! Now that seems like a  lot to me and I am sure I don’t buy that much (I am not American but I’m guessing that Europe is not far behind). So I decided to put it to the test- to keep track of how many items of clothing I consume in a year, to be more specific I will categorise it into new, secondhand, sustainable and ethical- now I am sure that there will be some crossover there and where do you raw the line?

And hey if I’m doing that I might as well keep track of everything I buy? And how much I spend on it. Yes everything… food, going out, books, toothpaste, fabric – EVERYTHING.

CONNECTED CONSUMPTION IN A CHALLENGING AGE- A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE MIGHT ACTUALLY BE MORE SUSTAINABLE

Photo from http://www.bmwguggenheimlab.org/what-is-the-lab/architecture

Talk by JULIETE SCHOR


The BMW Guggenheim Lab is a mobile laboratory travelling to nine cites over six years. It will spend a few months in each city exploring issues of contemporary urban live through art, architecture, design, science, technology, education and sustainability. It aims to create new ideas and forward thinking solutions for city life.  The lab has just left New York and I am very sad to see it go, it offered a wealth of free activities and talks for the public (and had a pretty good café).

One talk in particular that was very interesting was by JULIET SCHOR, she is author of The New Economics of TRUE WEALTH, has a background in economics but a passionate interest in a sustainable and stable future.

Isolde in NYC Again!

DUMBO ART FESTIVAL 2011

http://www.kara-smith.com/

http://www.susangrahamart.com/

Isolde is back in New York… Another 3 month stint. Working full time but she is still going to find time for some really exciting sustainable (yes these two words go together very well) stuff! Starting with today at the DUMBO ARTS FESTIVAL 2011 http://dumboartsfestival.com/ 

THREAD talks to Harper Poe of US ethical textile and homewares label, Proud Mary

Isolde caught up with Harper on one of her visits to NY. Now based in South Carolina, Harper designs and runs Proud Mary and produces her fabrics in Guatemala and South Africa, from where she draws inspiration for colours and pattern.
THREAD asked her about what made her start, how it all works and the ups and downs of running your own label, check out the interview on the website

Thanks Harper, we love your work! Check out the Proud Mary collection here

Image @ Proud Mary

THREAD talks to Tara St James

THREAD met Tara St James at Estethica a few months ago and was bowled over by the style and philosophy of her New York based ethical fashion label, Study NY. So when Isolde made the move to Manhattan, hot footing it over to catch up with Tara was top of the agenda...check out their interview here.
And take a look at the new collection here
Thanks Tara!

TIME OUT NEW YORK

Friday the 22nd of April was earth day, I don’t know what was happening over in the UK, but I’m guessing that Easter Friday was bigger. In the US there seemed to be a lot going on for it, it filled the TIME OUT with ‘green advise’ and lots of events, but I’m questioning its sincerity, but maybe I’m just getting confused by a language barrier (there is a huge difference between English and American). When I spoke to Tara St James (see the STUDY NY interview on the website) she told me that there was a visible difference between London and NY in terms of its responsible designing, that the activity here is very positive and it is often about the materials themselves; this is all very important but I can’t help but think the terminology is just too positive and not serious enough and the term green wash comes to mind.

THE GREEN SHOWS AT BLOOMINGDALE’S SOHO

A very exciting pop up shop lasting four days in New York’s SoHo Bloomingdale, showcasing the work of ANJA, THE BATTALION, STUDY NY, SAMANTHA PLEET, ROBIN BROULETTE, SUZANNE RAE, ARTISTS AND REVOLUTIONARIES, THE SWAY AND H. FREDRICKSSON. I was very busy working late and walking the dog but for many others there was the opportunity to meet and speak with the designers throughout the show. However, I did get a chance to pop in on Friday morning (before the torrential rain kicked in) and make my first STUDY NY purchase! The whole show looked great- it was a great space and lots of information about the designers for those who were looking- but the focus was about the beautiful work and the fact that it was ‘ECOLUX’ was just a bonus- the clothes were stunning and I had a great time in the changing room- a gorgeous Japanese style jacket by…., A bikini and dress by Samantha Pleet but in the end I went for …. By Study NY
I got to talk with someone from… who said that there had been a good amount of interest for the show and it was a balance of people who came because of the show and those who just stumbled across it.
I can’t wait for the next one!

MADE-BY: Fashion with respect for people and planet

MADE-BY are a European Not-For-Profit organisation dedicated to improving environmental and social conditions in the global fashion industry. Launched in 2004 in Amsterdam in response to growing consumer concerns over the production of the clothes they wear, MADE-By now has three offices in Europe, with London and Freiburg joining Amsterdam.

MADE-BY offer consultancy and training services to enable fashion brands to develop their environmental and social policies. The organisation also works in partnership with a group of brands on a long term basis,on services including their famous Track and Trace package, which allows consumers to follow the supply chain of a purchased garment.
This transparency chain and the software developed is an industry leader in enabling brands to document the work they are doing to improve standards within their production processes.

Josie will be working at MADE-BY on the supply chain Track and Trace project for the next three months, so look out for lots more info regarding the work of this organisation....
in the meantime check out their site at www.made-by.org ( you can try out the Track and Trace without a garment code to get an idea of the stories involved)

THREAD talks to....Orsola de Castro

Last year THREAD were lucky enough to interview ethical fashion mover and shaker, From Somewhere and Estethica founder, and all round inspration that is Orsola de Castro. We thought we should share her replies with you, so check out the interview on the website. And look out for more from Orsola for THREAD in the future...she got very excited when we told her she could say anything she liked! About ethical fashion of course!

GUILDED

Saturday, April 9 & Sunday, April 10
12-5 pm

organic - recycled - end of roll - silks - wool - cottons - interfacing - wovens - knits

Isolde in NYC!

Isolde is in New York City- doing a placement with Vanderhurd for two months- but while she is here  she is going to do lots of exciting stuff for THREAD!

Including an interview with Tara St James owner of Study NY, who has been showing at Esthetica for some seasons now- you will find her brand profile on the website  http://www.thethreadproject.co.uk/#/brand-profiles/4548919183 .

 She will also be meeting Samantha Pleet, a Brooklyn fashion designer who is very consious when it comes to fabric selection and all her things are made here in the US. http://www.samanthapleet.com/

Isolde is hoping to get involved with the Textile Arts Centre in Brooklyn. This looks like an amazing place doing wonderful work so watch this space!

http://www.textileartscenter.com/home_page

x

Ivo Textiles

Whist doing a placement at Christopher Farr Cloth   http://christopherfarrcloth.com/ Isolde got an opportunity to go to Ivo Textiles http://www.ivo.co.uk/HistoryStart.html a screen printing studio in Southall, London. Ivo was founded in 1963 by Ivo Tonder, Ellen and Victor Haas. They started off in Paddington printing for Zandra Rhodes and Vivenne Westwood and have grown over the years.