Topic Lead Discussion 3: East Africa Doesn’t Want Your Hand-Me Downs

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• Ban on import on 2nd hand clothing (Kenya, Rwanda, and few other countries) but they rely heavily on US and European countries for these textiles → goal to have it written by 2020 (Kenya started)

• Resold in the market or textiles as fabric

• US and other first world countries intimidated by the move from East Africa since they heavily rely on them

• 70lbs per person waste textile

• Working with China more than the Western countries cause better relations → teaching workers how to be skilled, boosting industry and creating trade → Western countries threatened → Bold move “enough is enough"

• We need to start educating ourselves (US) that these landfills of clothing isn’t benefiting Africa → not as a donation but as a market

• Educating Africans to look for their local industries

• Teaching them skills of reusing the clothing as textiles for other products (woven rugs, bags, etc.)

• US once it’s gone we don’t have to think about it again → doesn’t come back to the US

• Zero waste in the Eastern world vs. Western World (all of animal is used, reusing containers, etc.)

• Sustainable and ethical fashion is not a trend → we have limited resources

• LeTote → $59 a month of circulating clothes → people are also concerned about the hygienic aspect → if it is very clean → did they use harsh chemicals to do that?

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Topic Lead Discussion 4: Check Me Out: The Library Where You Can Borrow Clothes Instead of Books

 

• Lena - borrowing clothes instead of books; in Europe

• Instead of buying actual garment → subscription money converts to coins → each clothing is amount of coin

• Want borrowing clothes more normal; reduce waste and recycle clothes

• Rent the runway; but this company has more vintage clothing

• Changing the way consumers shops → getting to a habit of recycling clothes

• flaws/errors → maintaining the subscription; more for customers that are willing to spend for quality pieces; also not wearing it often within a month

  • How are the clothes being taken care of while they are away from company → putting into washer (how are customers keeping it clean and maintaining the quality

  • Subscribers are lazy, often times clothes go missing

  • Improvements - limit the items, the amount of time, charging extra if not returned → awareness to return; minimum subscription length

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Topic Lead Discussion 7: Sustainable Jeans 

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• Most jeans have toxic chemicals and pesticides

  • 1 pair = over 900 gallons of water → water is usually sent back into body of water

  • 10% of global water pollution comes from textiles​

• Reformation's new collection will have least chemicals possible

  • Use left over materials, recycled material, sustainable fabrics

  • 88% less water than average, saves 1.8 lb of waste per pair

  • $100-$150

  • New technology for denim product will use 92% less water, 30% less energy = save about 200 mil kilowatt hours of energy, save environmental waste

• They work with recycling facility → customers can choose extra envelope/box donate own old items

  • However that site isn’t obvious or in your face → hard to find

• Eco-friendly is definitely a better and more attractive choice

  • Should be marketed better, or more in your face since cost is #1 thing in consumers mind

  • Hard to see that they are eco-friendly → needs better marketing

• Everlane’s website is great at marketing their eco-friendliness but their brick-and-mortar isn’t great

• Carbon footprint is released after purchase → dyes are released in the washer

  • Set washer to cold → less energy, prevent 500 lbs of carbon dioxide to be released, better for clothes

  • ​Little changes can help save water → that water can be used for other uses like droughts, etc.

 

Topic Lead Discussion 8: S.Cafe: Fiber Made of Coffee Grounds 

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• Singtex is a Taiwanese company that has found use in these coffee waste after the CEO, Jason Chen saw elder ladies collecting coffee grounds at Starbucks (because of odor elimination property)

• Only 0.2% of coffee is made from coffee beans the and rest, 99.8% become grounds that are thrown away

• Coffee grounds are combined with polyester which is made from recycled plastic bottles to make coffee yarn which is then made into fabric

  • The coffee grounds are free from the cafes and stores which helps them reduce carbon footprint

  • One t-shirt is made from 3 cups of coffee grounds and 5 recycled plastic bottles

• Many brands have used his fabrics such as Timberland, American Eagle, Patagonia, Adidas, Oakley, Victoria Secret, North Face

• Another byproduct of the coffee grounds is coffee oil which the company has used as oil for cosmetics and soaps and can be made into waterproof film and foam pads

• Jason Chen also is open to spreading his creation globally → Columbia Federation of Coffee Farmers has invited his to help them create textiles using 100% Colombian coffee

 

Properties of S.Cafe Yarn

• Naturally eliminates odor

• Dries fast (200% faster than cotton)

• Pigment protection

• Ultraviolet protection

• Great for waterproof apparel + activewear  

• Fast drying

• Cool feeling

Questions

1. Since coffee grounds help to eliminate odors, what other potential industries can the fabric be used in?

   • Athletic, footwear

2. Why do you think that S.Cafe can be a good alternative to cotton?

   • Require less water

3. Do you believe that the fiber has a potential future in the market? Why?

   • Automobile industry since fast drying (stains), towels

4. If you were to market the fiber, what factors, qualities or properties would you promote?

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Voting to Reinvent Fashion

https://globalchangeaward.com/vote-for-nominee/

 

I voted for Crop-A-Porter because this idea was the only one that dealt with materials that are already wasted while others dealt with live crops. I like the idea of zero waste. I am also trying to be more conscious of my consumption by considering the product’s end life cycle. Since food and its waste is a big industry, it is a great idea to use it as material because it is already considered waste. Also, instead of relying on natural living material that is unpredictable with weather factors, food waste will always be available.