The Social Impact of Textile Production And A Fabric's Effect On You
Charlie Bradley Ross
Sunday, 30 July 2017
This is a 22 minute Lesson that looks at the social impacts of textile production, and how these issues extend to you and your customers as the wearer.
Bangladesh’s textile industry is worth $28bn a year to the country – it's virtual lifeblood. So employees are trapped between potential poverty and a dangerous working environment. They have no choice but to endure whatever conditions they are given. In the full Lesson this clip is from, we learn about the social cost of textile production; from raw material to end product, how does it affect the people who produce it? Social impact also encompasses animal welfare. So the animals that create or contribute to the raw materials, how have they been treated?
In the second half of the video Lesson, we take a look at how fabrics can affect your health and your customers’ health, as the wearer, too. We discuss some of the nasty chemicals to avoid. We’ll also take a look at some the companies and organisations doing amazing things.
In this Lesson, you will learn:
- The social impacts of textile production
- Textile production and animal welfare
- What your clothes may be doing to you when you wear them
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How To Choose Ethical Fabrics Guide
with The SFC TeamRead More...Summary
As we have already discussed in this Masterclass - How To Source Ethical Fabrics - the reasons to use ethical fabrics are numerous and obvious. But, how to do it in a way that is ethical, while also viable for your business?
It is best to look at your choices on a case-by-case basis. As we have discussed, there are positives and negatives for all materials, which is why some designers find it so difficult to find the perfect, ethical fabric. Each fabric brings with it its own environmental or social impact, and it can be worrisome to find a fabric that is protecting the environment, without, at the same time, jeopardising human rights or health.
This downloadable guide and toolkit will help you identify what your priorities are as a business owner, and help you find the most suitable fibre choices and subsequent fabrics for your products.