SUMMER PROJECT ON

GREEN FASHION

Introduction to Green Fashion:

It refers to the production of a product that does not deplete non-renewable resources, does not pollute through production, and can be absorbed harmlessly back into the environment at the end of its life. Here a product is created and produced with consideration to the environmental and social impact it may have throughout its total life span, including its "carbon footprint".

Carbon Footprint may refer to the total amount of green house gases that the product emits during its entire lifecycle ,from plantation till being discarded.

Harms that garments contribute at various stages of their life:

a) During the cultivation -Cotton is one of the most widely grown and chemical-intensive crops in the world. Conventionally grown cotton uses approximately 25% of the worlds insecticides and more than 10% of the worlds pesticides. In conventional cotton farming, Nitrogen fertiliser is a key source of emissions.“Water consumption –especially the extensive use of water in cotton crop cultivation – can also be a major environmental issue.

b) During the conversion of cotton into conventional clothing, many

hazardous materials are used and added to the product.

The “spinning, weaving and knitting” stages use a lot of energy, produce solid waste and generate dust.Many processing stages result in large amounts of toxic wastewater that carry away residues from chemical cleaning, dyeing, and finishing. This waste depletes the oxygen out of the water, killing aquatic animals and disrupting

aquatic ecosystems .

Chemicals used for finishing contain, amongst many others, heavy metals like copper, chromium and cobalt which are known hormone disrupters, and formaldehyde, a chemical.

Formaldehydes are used in wrinkle-free, non iron finishings but also as a fixing agent for cotton. It is an irritant to the skin and also a hormone disrupter.

Moreover the amount of distances the clothing has to travel throughout its entire life uses

a large amount of energy.

c) After the garment is made it may not directly release any harmful substance but leads to the usage of large amount of energy and water also. The way we wash, dry and care for our clothes decides how high these impacts are.

d) At the end of its usage by its customer a cloth has an end life too which again affects the environment by the way it is managed. A very large quantity of clothing still goes to our landfills

It costs municipalities a great deal to manage landfills, which are often almost full. Destroying waste is costly, and incineration causes pollution.

Ways to prevent such a damage to the environment:

1. Eco-friendly fibres should be used like-

The cotton that is being grown conventionally should be grown organically. Organic farmers work with nature to feed the soil and control pests. By choosing organic cotton, low impact farming, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint and because organic farming does not use petroleum based chemical fertilizer, pesticide or herbicide, it is less reliant on fossil fuels and has a lower carbon footprint.

Hemp: It is a commonly used term for the varieties of the cannabis term. Hemp fibre was widely used throughout history. Items ranging from rope, to fabrics, to industrial materials were made from hemp fibre. Hemp was often used to make sail canvas, and the word canvas derives from cannabis Today, a modest hemp fabric industry exists, and hemp fibres can be used in clothing. Pure hemp has a texture similar to linen.

Bamboo: Recently, bamboo clothing have entered the textile industry and many commercial banboo fabric products are claimed to be ecofriendly and antibacterial. Antibacterial agent in bamboo is identified as ‘kun’ which represents a hydroxyl(-OH) functional group. It also has a soft feel and flowing drape.

2. In place of using synthetic dyes which contain huge amount of chemicals that are harmful natural dyes can be used which are easily available from natural sources and are environment friendly also. Natural dyes are dyes or colorants derived from plants, invertebrates, or minerals. The majority of natural dyes are vegetable dyes from plant sources –roots, berries, bark, leaves, and wood — and other organic sources such as fungi and lichens.

Natural dyes such as indigo, pomegranate rind, myrobalan,

lac and manjistha as well as benign chemicals like aluminium and iron are eco-friendly alternatives to the synthetic dyes and hazardous chemicals used in conventional fabric dyeing.Dyes approved by GOTS(Global Organic Textile Standard) should be used.It is one of the strictest and well known standard for textile processing.

3. During its consumer stage maximum loss of energy is in washing and

drying only so green washing should be adopted. The customers should be informed through the wash care labels to “wash cool and hang dry” and should use low impact wash powder.

Ironing should not be done on all clothes. It should be done only on such kind of clothes as cotton which have low resiliency and that too only on party wear clothes.

4. Alternatives should be taken to reduce landfills like-

Reusing the old clothes.

Recycling the waste things.- Recycled or reclaimed fibers are made from scraps of fabrics collected from clothing factories and even the waste bottles etc, which are processed back into short fibres for spinning into a new yarn.

RPET (Post-Consumer Recycled Soda & Water Bottles)-PET Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate is the plastic used in most soda and water bottles and is highly collected for recycling.Once the recycled bottles are color separated, they are cleaned, chipped and then processed into fibers which are spun into threads. The thread is used to make multiple textures and weaves that can mimic many standardmaterials such as mesh, nylon, canvas and non-woven.By using PCR PET, you use less virgin plastic, you divert bottles from landfills and you support sustainable markets. At the end of its life, RPET can also be recycled with other fabrics

Recycled cotton leather-Cotton leather is made of 100% cotton made from a mix of Post Industrial scraps & Post Consumer clothing & rags.First we make pulp out of Rags and then make individual sheets of size 22×30″. After which it is screen printed and PU coated (Lead free) and then a leather texture is given.Since it is made from Cotton and looks like leather it is named “cotton leather”.

Why green fashion is useful:

Its better for the earth-. Choosing organic fibres or sustainable fabrics--like those made from bamboo or hemp--can also trim the amount of carbon you give off and chemicals you bring into your life, and there's no doubt that's a good thing.

Its better for people-: Buying clothes labelled under the Fair Trade Act is sustainable on several levels: You can be sure it was produced under safe working conditions, it's sweatshop free, and the person who made it earned a fair wage.

Its better for animals-. Making sure your closet is stocked with cruelty-free clothes i.e not made of leather ,fur,wool or silk means you can get dressed without worrying about what went into what you're wearing.

It lasts longer-: While buying organic, renewable fibres is often the least toxic way to go, finding timeless, durable pieces can be just as green. . Reducing waste and cutting back on your consumerism will do more for the earth--in terms of saving energy and resources--than stocking up on unnecessary fashions .

Its more personal-We should think local. Check nearby boutiques for fashions from designers in your area, and call on your favourite neighbourhood tailor to keep your favorite pieces fitting perfectly.

Its more than just organic-We've already mentioned local designers and timeless pieces, but sustainable clothing also includes vintage pieces and handmade options--both of which make your wardrobe one-of-a-kind.

THE DESIGNERS AND ORGANISATIONS ALREADY WORKING IN THIS FIELD-

Stella McCartney

Carrie Parry

100% NY

Pepe Jeans

Sass BrownThe Earthkeepers

collection

Future of green fashion:

Green is the new status symbol. Green products and lifestyles are definitely no longer for tree huggers.

The Fashion-carbon-footprint of today dispels that myth as sustainable-fashion-designs increase in popularity, and fashion styles move into the direction of eco-friendly apparel.

With the ever-growing green-movement and the wish to rid our surroundings of pollutants, there is the desire to re-use, reduce and recycle.

Accountability is becoming huge in all types of business and modern-day fashion-designers are striving to be more responsible towards lowering our fashion-carbon-footprint.

Noir has launched luxury eco-fashion products, including organically certified African cotton products, and Linda Loudermilk's Couture line includes glamorous and sophisticated pieces made from bamboo and soya. This new luxury eco-fashion is increasingly more available, and celebrities are also jumping on the environmental bandwagon. Lindsay Lohan is wearing secondhand clothing for environmental reasons, Alicia Silverstone is a vegetarian and Leonardo DiCaprio co-produced, wrote and narrated the eco-documentary "11th Hour" to, he said, "raise awareness about global warming and the problems we face in promoting a sustainable environmental future for our planet."

THANK YOU

Submitted by:Ruchika Agarwal

Saptarshi Roy B.F.Tech-III2012-2016