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| Using bikes instead of cars |
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| Travel around the world |
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Trying a new life far away from the norm |
Written by Alana Rozier Kuwabara
Jeans are a staple in any wardrobe so finding a brand to call your own and separate you from the crowd can be tough; unless you wear jeans made from Japanese sugar cane. If you’re rocking these jeans, then you can be sure to be the envy of every denim sweet tooth you meet.
Sugar Cane Jeans are literally made from Japanese sugar cane and hand dyed in a traditional Japanese dying technique – not by machine. It took SCJ 20 years of research to create these sweet “dungarees”, as SCJ prefers to call them. It’s all about taking the original denim designs and old school 1900s manufacturing methods to faithfully recreate them in an eco-friendly way.
The standard denim style is modeled after the 1940s original Levis 501. Other styles are also modeled after Levis; down to the pockets, leather patches and stitching; making them identical to their forefathers.
As if making jeans out of sugar cane wasn’t unique enough, the denim is actually Japanese selvage denim – reportedly the finest in the world. These dungarees truly make a statement about style, exclusivity and the environment. If you’re lucky enough to live in one of the 6 countries with stores that carry them, don’t be the last to get a cavity off of these sweet jeans. They’ve even branched out into shirts and jackets so you can be saccharine savvy from top to toe.
Sugar Cane Jeans – a ferociously guarded secret you won’t want to keep.
Using Nutritions to make garments; In order to stay sustainable
Environmental Stewardship
We share our customers' commitment to the environment.
And we believe in the importance of caring for our planet and encouraging others to do the same. As a company that relies on an agricultural product, it makes good business sense. And as people living in the world, it is simply the right thing to do.
It’s a big challenge and we’re making big progress. We’re trying to develop more environmentally friendly cups and are working hard to expand our recycling programme in an effort to reduce the waste we create.
We are proud of the work we have done to be more energy efficient and we’re committed to further minimising our energy consumption and using renewable sources of energy to lower our impact on the planet.
We all have to work carefully with one of our most valuable natural resources and we’re evaluating our store design, equipment and operations to identify ways to continue to reduce the amount of water we use.
We’re making our stores as green as we can by using responsible building materials and energy efficient designs to reduce our environmental footprint.
Climate change poses a serious threat to the world’s coffee-growing regions and we’re aggressively pursuing strategies to address this problem and help farmers mitigate the impact.
Brands/shops show awareness
They use sustainability (sometimes as a marketing strategy) to keep up an image of being environmently friendly
they want to be transparent as a brand so the customer knows all steps of the production.
Zipcars
This idea is bigger than all of us…
Imagine a world with one million fewer cars on the road. We do. Every day we are working towards a place with less dependence on personally-owned vehicles. Why? Because it matters. Fewer cars on the road means less congestion, less pollution, less dependence on oil, and cleaner, fresher air to breathe. Some folks don't believe it's possible for car sharing to have such a huge impact.
Here's a quick checklist of the facts so you can see for yourself.
Fewer cars. Way Fewer.
Each and every Zipcar takes at least 15 personally-owned vehicles off the road. Multiply that by the more than 8000 cars in our fleet and you've got a really big number.
Less and less driving.
After joining Zipcar, 90% of our members drove 5,500 miles or less per year. That adds up to more than 32 million gallons of crude oil left in the ground—or 219 gallons saved per Zipster.
Green gets even greener.
10% of the population is expected to adopt car sharing as their primary mode of transportation. Break it down and you have millions of people saving billions of gallons of gas and oil. Factor in the savings and you've got an economic revolution.
A penny saved, a community revived.
Zipcar members save more than $500 (vs. car ownership). What would you do with an extra $500 a month? Many Zipsters put it back into their communities by buying local and sustainable products.
We pride ourselves—and our members—on redefining what green looks like. We're not one kind of person, or a specific group of people. Everyone—from businessmen to freshmen is getting on board. Drive a hybrid, or even an BMW; around here they're all green.
There are more cars worldwide than human beings
Sharing cars is a nice alternative to improve one of the biggest issues existing today.
Rainbow Winters’ Colorful, Interactive Couture Reacts to Water, Sun, Music
Rainbow Winters puts the “high tech” in “technicolor.” The freshly launched London fashion label, designed by the loquaciously named Amy Konstanze Mercedes Rainbow Winters, offers a collection of interactive garments that change color in response to water, sunlight, or sound. Printed with specialty thermochromic and hydrochromic inks, Winters’ bespoke pieces turn the act of dressing up into a multisensory experience, subtly or not-so-subtly shifting appearance as the fabric prints interact with the great outdoors.
Fashion becomes a mix of music, art, technology and pop culture
Nuno Felting: A Stitch-Free Way of Fusing Fabrics into Garments
Patricia Voto is a designer on a mission: to resurrect time-honored craftsmanship based on luxury’s original tenets. For her senior thesis, the Parsons graduate dove deep into exploring artisan crafts, finally settling on nuno felting as subject of her ethically and sustainably minded collection. Designed to be easily assembled by artisans who are already familiar with the art of weaving and felting, “Silk & Lye” distinguishes itself for having no seams. In lieu of stitching, Voto bridges disparate pieces of fabric with strips of wool roving, which she squirts with soap and water, then needle-punches into shape.
The following article is about 5 social trends for 2011 (Unfortunately only in Dutch)
1. Rise of urban nomads
2. Rise of social web
3. Cool, relax and help me to distress.
4. Eco cool
5. Manipulating media society
Door Anouk Binkhuysen van HetMarketingmeisje
Sociale trends zijn trends die ons gedrag en onze levensstijl als consument beïnvloeden, die zich richten op houding en attitude en die grensoverstijgend zijn. Ze worden gevoed door invloeden van buitenaf, zoals politiek, techniek, vergrijzing en het stijgende welstandsniveau. Als consument reageren wij hierop. Naar aanleiding van de Nijenrode masterclass Trendwatching van 16 december jl. werden een aantal trends nader toegelicht door Carl Rohde (trendwatcher van het jaar 2010). Een aantal trends spraken mij aan, dus deze heb ik hierbij nader uitgelicht.
Hoewel ik enigszins sceptisch was over de houdbaarheid van trendwatching binnen een academisch kader, was ik toch aardig verrast over de wijze waarop zowel Rohde als Gaspersz trendwatching als vakgebied benaderden door er een goede theoretische basis onder te leggen. Het heeft mij er in elk geval van overtuigd dat trendwatching een manier kan zijn om op structurele wijze ontwikkelingen van ‘buiten’ naar binnen te halen. Door er visie op te ontwikkelen, kan trendwatching een onderdeel zijn van je strategie om het innovatiebeleid te ‘voeden’ en er vervolgens zelf de vertaling aan te geven in de vorm van new business of andere vormen van vernieuwing op product- of organisatieniveau.
Wat is een trend?
Als Rohde spreekt over trends dan gaat het altijd om gevalideerde trends. Dit zijn trends die zijn onderzocht, die je in een kader kunt plaatsen en kunt onderbouwen vanuit onderzoek (empirisch referaat zoals Rohde dit noemt). Bovendien gaat het om sociale trends, dus trends met een bepaalde houdbaarheid waar je als organisatie ook een beleid op kunt voeren. Een sociale trend duurt gemiddeld zo’n 8 jaar. Een goed voorbeeld van een sociale trend is bijvoorbeeld duurzaamheid (Rohde definieert dit als ‘Eco cool’). Uiteraard zijn er ook korte termijn trends (hypes), maar deze zijn voor een organisatie minder interessant omdat je hier geen beleid op kunt afstemmen.
Bij trendwatching kijk je wat er leeft onder de mensen. Om te weten wat er leeft in de wereld heeft Rohde 8000 coolhunters over de hele wereld gescout. Dit zijn meestal studenten die bekijken welke trends in hun land leven en zo wordt Rohde gevoed met de meest actuele trends over de hele wereld, dat als basis dient voor zijn trendrapporten. De meeste trends die door Rohde worden benoemd zijn niet branchespecifiek maar zijn feitelijk een dwarsdoorsnede van wat er zich in de wereld afspeelt op sociocultureel vlak in de grote steden. Door zijn internationale aanpak van trendwatching, zijn de trends die Rohde noemt dan ook goed bruikbaar voor grote internationale organisaties, want ze zijn generiek (dus branche-overstijgend) en breed toepasbaar (dus te vertalen naar strategie). Uiteindelijk moet je wel in staat zijn om van deze ‘algemene’ trends een vertaling te maken naar je product of marktstrategie in je organisatie. Dit kan op zich al een hele kunst zijn.
Trend 1: the rise of the urban nomads
Urban nomads zijn mensen die niet meer per definitie van 9 tot 5 op een kantoor werken, maar anyplace, anytime, anywhere hun laptop openklappen om te gaan werken. Concepten als Seats2Meet, IGLUU en Youmeet haken in op deze trend. Vernieuwende vergader- en werkomgevingen met een sociaal en open karakter welke dienen als zowel werkplek, vergaderplek en ontmoetingsplek. Ook Het Nieuwe Werken is een vorm van flexibel werken, waarbij netwerken binnen je eigen organisatie, het delen van informatie en samenwerken de basisgedachtes zijn. Tevens is het nog steeds groeiende aantal zzp-ers in Nederland een voorbeeld van urban nomads. Als ze niet bij een klant zitten, wordt er ge(net)werkt op publieke locaties waar de koffie goed is, een wireless netwerk aanwezig is en interessante mensen komen zoals de Seats2Meet, de CoffeeCompany en de Starbucks.
Hoe zichtbaar is deze trend in de mediasector?
De mediasector kent veel initiatieven waarbij kennisdeling centraal staat en innovatie en vernieuwing steeds meer ontstaat op basis van samenwerking tussen verschillende partijen. In plaats van zelf het wiel uit te vinden, zoeken we strategische partners. Interessante crossmediale cases als bijvoorbeeld Benelux’ Next Topmodel waar adverteerders (C&A, Procter&Gamble) en het mediabedrijf (RTL) intensief samenwerken, zijn daar een mooi voorbeeld van. Kennisdeling uit zich ook op de succesvolle blogs als Marketingfacts.nl en natuurlijk ook Frankwatching, waar mediaprofessionals kennis delen en graag zichtbaar willen zijn binnen de branche.
Trend 2: The rise of the social web
Eigenlijk is deze trend een open deur en mag deze natuurlijk niet ontbreken in het lijstje. Hoewel de consument in Nederland zich massaal heeft toegelegd op sociale netwerken als Hyves, LinkedIn, Twitter en Facebook, worstelen veel bedrijven nog met de vraag hoe zij met social media moeten omgaan.
Bedrijven als Insided leveren expertise op social CRM en adviseren bedrijven hoe ze een community kunnen opstarten om strategisch klantcontact op te bouwen. Deze ontwikkeling zal voor veel bedrijven steeds belangrijker worden. Consumenten worden mondiger en zijn steeds moeilijker te typeren in een enkele doelgroep. Interactie, de dialoog aangaan en klantenkennis opbouwen is essentieel voor organisaties. Sociale netwerken spelen hierin een belangrijke rol.
Trend 3: Cool-relax, help me to distress!
´We are living in a stress society, where the need to comfort ourselves from time to time is accelerating. The rise of a stress society is not totally new. But it is alive and poignant with the younger target group. So don’t deny it, you better tap into it. Every product, every service, every brand, every organization, every human being that helps us to RELAX, we start to love.’ (Bron: scienceofthetime.com)
Op het gebied van mediaconsumptie vraagt de consument vooral veel verschillende informatie, tailormade, op ieder moment binnen handbereik en bijna voor niets. Dit heeft zich vertaald in het feit dat iedere krant en ieder blad of magazine wel een app heeft ontwikkeld voor de iPhone en de iPad, maar of deze bedrijven hier ook meer omzet door krijgen is nog maar de vraag. De opkomst van ereaders en tablets betekent ook andere consumptie van boeken. E-books worden nog mondjesmaat door uitgevers omarmd, maar tegelijkertijd ligt het schrijven van een boek voor veel auteurs nu binnen handbereik en zal de consumptie van e-books alleen maar toenemen nu tablets en e-readers steeds goedkoper worden en in het gemak van de consument voorzien. In 2010 zijn er ca. 351.000 e-books verkocht, een stijging van 300% ten opzicht van 2009. (Bron InCT)
De groei van het uitgesteld kijken naar televisieprogramma’s en het kijken van televisiecontent op internet (YouTube, Uitzendinggemist en RTLXL), zijn ontwikkelingen die het televisielandschap definitief doen veranderen. Televisiezenders spelen hierop in door alle programma’s ook online aan te bieden. Hierdoor zijn zij vaak ook met hun online platform een interessante partner voor veel adverteerders. Succesvolle initiatieven in de vorm van diverse branded content concepten zijn hiervan het resultaat.
Trend 4: Eco cool
Duurzaamheid, milieubewust, groenbeleid, een trend die al een aantal jaar bestaat maar waar lang een sterk stoffig imago aan hing. Inmiddels niet meer, want eco is cool. Hoewel biologische supermarkten een aantal jaren geleden slechts door een handvol eco ‘die-hards’ werden bezocht, heeft ieder zichzelf respecterende supermarkt nu een biologische lijn en schieten de hippe ‘Rio-de-bio’s’ als paddenstoelen uit de grond.
Milieubewustzijn en de zorg voor een gezonde planeet zijn actuele thema’s die in vrijwel ieder bedrijf een rol spelen, maar vaak nog op de achtergrond. Eco-cool bij consumenten is ook de behoefte aan zingeving, persoonlijke groei en maatschappelijke betrokkenheid. Dit zijn hot topics, die zich vertalen in nieuwe bladconcepten als Zens, Happinez, Goodies Magazine, Onkruid en Ode. Deze bladconcepten spelen in op de behoefte van een groeiende groep mensen die bewust keuzes will maken, het liefst met concrete handvatten, product- en verkoopinfomatie, zodat de bewuste keuzes ook gemakkelijk gemaakt kunnen worden.
Trend 5: Manipulating media society
“We all live in a (manipulating) Media Society. We are surrounded by images and pictures that seduce us to listen to them, even identify with them. There is an overdose of them. We love them, sometimes we hate them. Often we realize we cannot trust them. That is what it means to live in a (manipulating) Media Society.” (Bron: scienceofthetime.com)
Beelden zeggen meer dan 1000 woorden, kijk zelf maar!
Het Koedenken en anders kijken
Gelet op bovenstaande trends is de vervolgvraag uiteraard: hoe nu verder? Trendwatching is een manier om geïnspireerd te worden en nieuwe ideeën te genereren voor jou en je organisatie.
Echter, de allergrootste tegenkracht van vernieuwing en innovatie is het gebrek aan verbeeldingskracht bij velen van ons, als wel het gebrek aan het creëren van kansen om verbintenissen te maken tussen trends, ideeën en realisatie. Het ‘Koedenken” (Jeff Gaspersz) ligt hieraan ten grondslag. Koedenken ontstaat als je al langere tijd in een organisatie werkt, want je gaat dan de dingen zien die je wilt zien en het wordt steeds moeilijker om out-of-the-box te denken. Je ziet namelijk alles op dezelfde manier en door dezelfde bril. Het ‘koedenken’ zorgt dat we ophouden met dromen en het is een manier van denken die ons afhoudt van het bedenken van nieuwe ideeen.
Hoe wapen je je nu tegen het koedenken? Trendwatching is een manier om geïnspireerd te worden en nieuwe ideeën te krijgen, maar het is belangrijk om dit niet eenmalig te doen. Het is een continue proces, waardoor trends ook echt van buiten naar binnen gehaald worden. Op deze wijze voed je de mensen continu met nieuwe ideeën en inspiratie, zodat het koedenken zich tot een minimum zal beperken.
Tevens is het belangrijk dat creativiteit gestimuleerd wordt in een organisatie, zodat je losgekoppeld wordt van je bestaande omgeving. Dat kan uiteraard op vele verschillende manieren, maar het is vooral belangrijk om mensen de ruimte te geven om creatief te kunnen denken. Veel managers willen bij ieder idee al direct een business case zien. Dat is killing voor de moraal en dodelijk voor de creativiteit, want dan geef je geen ruimte voor nieuwe ideeën en slaat direct alles dood.
Hoewel het helpt als de organisatie een visie heeft, ligt de sleutel voor het concretiseren van vernieuwing op basis van trendwatching vooral in de kunst van het anders leren kijken, wat leidt tot nieuwe inzichten en nieuwe verbindingen. Dit kan zijn in de vorm van een nieuwe samenwerking, een andere benadering van je klant of misschien wel iets volledig nieuws gaan doen. Denk bij jezelf ‘Wat wil ik met mijn organisatie, waar wil ik naartoe en waar wil ik staan over 5 en 10 jaar?’en kijk eens op een andere wijze naar je klanten en de waarde die je levert. Denk vanuit de beleving en laat jezelf vooral geen beperkingen toe dit jaar.
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| Globe made out of jeans |
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| Combinie fashion with Technology |
LET IT GLOW
Swedish student designer Mae Yokoyama pieced together a necklace from miniature solar panels and tiny LED bulbs. Drawing power from the sun, the bulbs light up like a string of incandescent pearls.
T-Shirt Converts Rock Music Into Electricity at Glastonbury Festival
Go ahead and pump up those jams, because a new technology that turns sound into electricity—enough to charge your cellphone or portable device—is about to revolutionize musical festivals everywhere. And the magic begins in your T-shirt. The high-tech tee, known as “Sound Charge,” is the brainchild of British telecommunications firm Orange, which will debut the prototype at England’s famed Glastonbury Festival this weekend. A collaboration with the renewable-energy experts at GotWind, Orange’s sound-absorber takes amplified acoustics and converts them into a steady charge. In other words, you can keep your mobile juiced simply by hanging out at a concert.
At Amsterdam’s De Culinaire Werkplaats, Edible Clothing is Dessert
Clothing as dessert? Get any tawdry ideas out of your head, dear reader; this concept is anything but. Eric Meursing and Marjolein Wintjes, owners of De Culinaire Werkplaats, a design-studio-cum-restaurant in Amsterdam, built their reputation on edible pastry wrappers made from dehydrated fruits, vegetables, and herbs. When their resemblance to fabric became too compelling to ignore, the papers became a series of garments that, quite literally, look good enough to eat.
Dr. Alkaitis’s “Organic Skin Food” is Skincare That You Can Eat
We’re not exaggerating when we say that Dr. Alkaitis is good enough to eat. The skincare company concocts its certified-organic cleansers, toners, crèmes, and face masks out of mouthwatering ingredients like wild fennel, sweet potato, grapes, strawberries, and olives. Only biologically active ingredients are used, which means you won’t find any synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms, or even so-called plant-derived constituents. We had the good fortune of meeting founder Saulius Alkaitis’s granddaughter and in-house rep, Alexandra Conn, at her booth at this year’s Designers & Agents Green Room, and in the interest of science, decided to put the brand’s claims to the (taste) test.
Critics of organic cotton rant about water resources needed to grow it, chemical dyes and the significant carbon footprint created to ship it. Proponents of organic cotton remind us of its reduced or nonexistent chemical usage and the smaller farms where it’s typically grown, and of the GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds used to grow conventional cotton. We delve into the fact and fiction about organic cotton to give you an honest look at how sustainable this fiber really is.
1. Chemicals
Considered one of the most chemically dependent crops in the world, conventional cotton uses 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of the world’s insecticides — in the U.S., one-third of a pound of chemicals is needed just to grow enough conventional cotton for a regular T-shirt. “Organic cotton is a solution to the problem of chemical use in conventional cotton,” says Lynda Grose of the Sustainable Cotton Project. Additionally, Grose says growing organic cotton is a great transition crop to convert chemical-intensive fields to a future organic farm, whether it’s for growing food or fabrics. “The ecological goal is to convert fields from chemical controls to biological controls.”
Organic cotton crops are kept healthy with a number of natural methods that help control weeds and pests. According to the Organic Consumers Association’s Clothes for a Change program, these methods include mechanical or hand-weeding, crop rotation, planting several crops together (intercropping), use of mulches, adjusting planting dates and densities of crops, and introducing beneficial predator insects.
By using the sustainable methods farmers have embraced for centuries, modern-day organic cotton farmers are saving money on production and reducing the high health care costs associated with chemical exposure, because those involved in the production of organic cotton, from the farmer and weaver to the seller and consumer, are not exposed to the chemicals used in conventional cotton farming.
2. Water Resources
Many believe that conventional cotton uses much less water than organic cotton, but in fact the opposite may be true. By beginning with healthy soil, organic cotton farmers need not supply intense irrigation for their crops — the plants themselves use water much more efficiently due to the inherent health of their surrounding environment. No matter the crop, water usage varies from field to field and country to country. While organic cotton crops in California may use the same amount of water as conventional cotton, crops in Turkey and India may be an entirely different story. During the transitional phase from a conventional to an organic cotton field, it is commonly reported that organic cotton will require more water, but once the land is certified organic (after two or three years of growing transitional crops), water usage often returns to previously normal levels — sometimes even less!
Pesticides used on conventional cotton crops are well known for seeping into local streams, rivers and even public water supplies. “In 1995, pesticide-contaminated runoff from cotton fields in Alabama killed 240,000 fish,” according to the Organic Consumers Association. “[Fourteen] million people in the U.S. are routinely drinking water contaminated with carcinogenic herbicides and 90 percent of municipal water treatment facilities lack equipment to remove these chemicals.” With these dangerous agricultural by-products in our water, it will take cotton plants more time and effort to absorb the tainted water, in turn requiring more water to speed up the growing process.
4. Shipping
Organic cotton has undoubtedly sounded like the overwhelming choice thus far, but nothing is perfect. India, Turkey, Peru, China and Africa currently grow more organic cotton than the United States does. What does this mean? It means that the next organic cotton T-shirt you buy was likely grown hundreds of thousands of miles away, shipped around the world to be processed, then shipped to a retailer and finally to you. That’s a big carbon footprint for one T-shirt!
All hope is not lost for organic-cotton fans who appreciate local production. Texas, California and New Mexico are continually expanding their organic cotton production. Still, the United States is one of the world’s top conventional cotton producers, making it a vital force in the cotton market and one we should continually influence to embrace organic growth and production. In the meantime, make sure to offset the carbon emissions produced from shipping your organic cotton purchases.
5. Chemical Dyes
Even if the cotton fibers were grown organically, they can still be unsustainably influenced during production, most notably by chemical dyes. These dyes are often made from “iron, tin, potassium, VOCs [volatile organic compounds] and solvent-based inks containing heavy metals, benzene and organochlorides that require large quantities of water to wash out the dye residues,” according to Lackman.
Certified organic manufacturing facilities will often use low-impact dyes that use clays, vegetables or minerals to create varying shades. Gaiam is one of the many organic cotton brands that are openly committed to using low-impact dyes. Unfortunately, not all organic cotton is dyed using sustainable means—and it is hard to track. There is currently no labeling system for products that are made with low-impact dyes; you simply have to ask each company and retailer individually about their production practices.
6. Cost
There is no way to get around the fact that organic cotton items are anywhere from 10 to 45 percent more expensive than conventional cotton products. But before you put back those stylish organic cotton jeans or absorbent organic cotton bath towels, remember what you are paying for: clean water, fresh air, healthy farmers, fair wages, global economic progression, sweatshop-free production and more.
Conventional cotton prices don’t take into account the impact that its production has on the planet and the many people involved in its manufacture, including sweatshops and global poverty. With organic cotton, you are paying more initially, but that cost is passed not only to the retailer, but to the weavers, seamstresses, pickers and growers who made that item’s production possible. In turn, you are also investing in your own health with a garment that will not off-gas (yup, just like toxic paints) chemicals or dyes that can impact all of your body’s basic systems.
7. Organic Cotton vs. Conventional Cotton: The Bottom Line
The gloves are off, no holds barred. Who is the winner? Neither conventional nor organic cotton is perfect. However, the world of sustainable production is growing more each day, and we are finding newer and simpler ways to create quality goods. The next time you have the choice between conventional or organic cotton, you can choose wisely.
How Eco Is Organic Cotton? The Facts on 7 Questions
Is organic cotton really worth the extra cost?
By Victoria Everman
Before bamboo, soy and coconut fibers, there was organic cotton. Arguably the most popular sustainable fabric available, organic cotton is grown without pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, all of which are used on conventional cotton crops. Organic cotton is used in T-shirts, diapers, sheets and more. But is it truly the better choice?Critics of organic cotton rant about water resources needed to grow it, chemical dyes and the significant carbon footprint created to ship it. Proponents of organic cotton remind us of its reduced or nonexistent chemical usage and the smaller farms where it’s typically grown, and of the GMO (genetically modified organisms) seeds used to grow conventional cotton. We delve into the fact and fiction about organic cotton to give you an honest look at how sustainable this fiber really is.
1. Chemicals
Considered one of the most chemically dependent crops in the world, conventional cotton uses 10 percent of all agricultural chemicals and 25 percent of the world’s insecticides — in the U.S., one-third of a pound of chemicals is needed just to grow enough conventional cotton for a regular T-shirt. “Organic cotton is a solution to the problem of chemical use in conventional cotton,” says Lynda Grose of the Sustainable Cotton Project. Additionally, Grose says growing organic cotton is a great transition crop to convert chemical-intensive fields to a future organic farm, whether it’s for growing food or fabrics. “The ecological goal is to convert fields from chemical controls to biological controls.”
Organic cotton crops are kept healthy with a number of natural methods that help control weeds and pests. According to the Organic Consumers Association’s Clothes for a Change program, these methods include mechanical or hand-weeding, crop rotation, planting several crops together (intercropping), use of mulches, adjusting planting dates and densities of crops, and introducing beneficial predator insects.
By using the sustainable methods farmers have embraced for centuries, modern-day organic cotton farmers are saving money on production and reducing the high health care costs associated with chemical exposure, because those involved in the production of organic cotton, from the farmer and weaver to the seller and consumer, are not exposed to the chemicals used in conventional cotton farming.
2. Water Resources
Many believe that conventional cotton uses much less water than organic cotton, but in fact the opposite may be true. By beginning with healthy soil, organic cotton farmers need not supply intense irrigation for their crops — the plants themselves use water much more efficiently due to the inherent health of their surrounding environment. No matter the crop, water usage varies from field to field and country to country. While organic cotton crops in California may use the same amount of water as conventional cotton, crops in Turkey and India may be an entirely different story. During the transitional phase from a conventional to an organic cotton field, it is commonly reported that organic cotton will require more water, but once the land is certified organic (after two or three years of growing transitional crops), water usage often returns to previously normal levels — sometimes even less!
Pesticides used on conventional cotton crops are well known for seeping into local streams, rivers and even public water supplies. “In 1995, pesticide-contaminated runoff from cotton fields in Alabama killed 240,000 fish,” according to the Organic Consumers Association. “[Fourteen] million people in the U.S. are routinely drinking water contaminated with carcinogenic herbicides and 90 percent of municipal water treatment facilities lack equipment to remove these chemicals.” With these dangerous agricultural by-products in our water, it will take cotton plants more time and effort to absorb the tainted water, in turn requiring more water to speed up the growing process.
4. Shipping
Organic cotton has undoubtedly sounded like the overwhelming choice thus far, but nothing is perfect. India, Turkey, Peru, China and Africa currently grow more organic cotton than the United States does. What does this mean? It means that the next organic cotton T-shirt you buy was likely grown hundreds of thousands of miles away, shipped around the world to be processed, then shipped to a retailer and finally to you. That’s a big carbon footprint for one T-shirt!
All hope is not lost for organic-cotton fans who appreciate local production. Texas, California and New Mexico are continually expanding their organic cotton production. Still, the United States is one of the world’s top conventional cotton producers, making it a vital force in the cotton market and one we should continually influence to embrace organic growth and production. In the meantime, make sure to offset the carbon emissions produced from shipping your organic cotton purchases.
5. Chemical Dyes
Even if the cotton fibers were grown organically, they can still be unsustainably influenced during production, most notably by chemical dyes. These dyes are often made from “iron, tin, potassium, VOCs [volatile organic compounds] and solvent-based inks containing heavy metals, benzene and organochlorides that require large quantities of water to wash out the dye residues,” according to Lackman.
Certified organic manufacturing facilities will often use low-impact dyes that use clays, vegetables or minerals to create varying shades. Gaiam is one of the many organic cotton brands that are openly committed to using low-impact dyes. Unfortunately, not all organic cotton is dyed using sustainable means—and it is hard to track. There is currently no labeling system for products that are made with low-impact dyes; you simply have to ask each company and retailer individually about their production practices.
6. Cost
There is no way to get around the fact that organic cotton items are anywhere from 10 to 45 percent more expensive than conventional cotton products. But before you put back those stylish organic cotton jeans or absorbent organic cotton bath towels, remember what you are paying for: clean water, fresh air, healthy farmers, fair wages, global economic progression, sweatshop-free production and more.
Conventional cotton prices don’t take into account the impact that its production has on the planet and the many people involved in its manufacture, including sweatshops and global poverty. With organic cotton, you are paying more initially, but that cost is passed not only to the retailer, but to the weavers, seamstresses, pickers and growers who made that item’s production possible. In turn, you are also investing in your own health with a garment that will not off-gas (yup, just like toxic paints) chemicals or dyes that can impact all of your body’s basic systems.
7. Organic Cotton vs. Conventional Cotton: The Bottom Line
The gloves are off, no holds barred. Who is the winner? Neither conventional nor organic cotton is perfect. However, the world of sustainable production is growing more each day, and we are finding newer and simpler ways to create quality goods. The next time you have the choice between conventional or organic cotton, you can choose wisely.
Antwerp, a big inspiration towards fashion because of it's unique and different retail stores...
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Pepe Store Antwerp 
Water-Purifying Raincoat Keeps You Dry, Quenches Thirst on the Go
Video: http://www.ecouterre.com/water-purifying-raincoat-keeps-you-dry-quenches-thirst-on-the-go/
Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink? Meet “Raincatch,” a hooded slicker that not only keeps you dry in a downpour but also purifies rainwater for wetting your whistle on the move. Designed by Hyeona Yang and Joshua Noble from the Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design, the multitasking garment uses a system of charcoal and chemical filters to create potable water, which is stored around the hips for weight distribution without strain.
RAIN HARVESTER
Rather than hide the tubes, however, Yang and Noble opted to flaunt them. “The aesthetics of the coat are simple but elegant, showing the water and the internal workings of the coat, but hiding the water storage to maintain a clean form factor,” the designers say.
The multitasking garment uses a system of charcoal and chemical filters to create potable water.
An example of “performative design,” the concept could use some refinement before it becomes ready to wear. Yang and Noble’s intentions, however, are well-placed. As water scarcity becomes the next battlefront and weather patterns take a more mercurial turn, every drop will matter.
Garment with gps in and a connection to 110
Climate-Controlled Clothing Keeps You at the Perfect Temperature
Swelter no more in the summer heat only to shiver once you enter a store blasting its AC. The new ClimaWare line of clothing by India’s Dhama Innovations keeps you comfy no matter what the thermometer says. Designed to flip from 0 to 100 degrees Celsius at the push of a button, the clothing and accessories feature eight levels of heating and cooling to cope with unpredictable weather, extreme temperatures, and hostile environments. In addition to helping soldiers stay toasty in subzero conditions and keeping cows cool enough to produce more milk, the technology could also be applied to control bleeding in a medical emergency.
THERMAL DYNAMICS
ClimaWare is the brainchild of Kranthi Kiran Vistakula, a former Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate and founder and CEO of Dhama Innovations. Since April, Vistakula’s company has released a number of products—including temperature-modulating jackets, helmets, neck wraps, and shoes—with even more on the horizon.
The technology uses the Peltier effect, a form of heat exchange that keeps laptops from overheating.
The technology taps into what’s known as the Peltier effect, a form of heat exchange that keeps laptops and other electronic devices from overheating. Electricity courses though a junction where two different metals meet so that one side heats up while the other cools down. Instead of a fan to blow away the heat, however, Vistakula uses nanomaterials that are engineered ton conduct temperatures without moving parts. Each thermoelectric device draws power from a rechargeable battery that provides up to eight hours of heat or cold per charge.
The Indian army, which tested the jackets and shoes on the Siachen Glacier in the Himalayas, is already a fan, although Dhama will have to scale up its production—and lower its price—before farmers can afford to outfit their cows. The company is also working on a line of knee and elbow packs that provide heat and cold therapy for joint and muscle injuries. Another product in the pipeline is “HaemoSave,” a medical pack that uses freezing temperatures to stem blood loss, pain, and inflammation.
Coming soon: a “HaemoSave” pack that uses freezing temperatures to stem bleeding and inflammation.
Medical and livestock applications aside, the garments offer the perfect solution for thermostat-fiddling colleagues who are either too hot or too cold. And as the climate becomes increasingly unpredictable (ahem, climate change), one jacket could suffice for the shifting temperatures we encounter through the day.
Ralph Lauren Launches $800 Solar-Powered Waterproof Backpack
Ralph Lauren’s men’s athletic line, RLX, recently released a new line of high-performance bags, one of which features an integrated solar panel. Made in Italy from a thin, seamless, and water-resistant material, the Solar Panel Backpack generates enough juice to charge an iPod or cellphone in a matter of hours. Luxury, style, and solar power, all in one.
U.K. Military Developing Solar-Powered Uniforms That Generate Electricity
Scientists across the United Kingdom are working on a solar-powered kit that could lighten the load of soldiers—and, more important, increase their mobility—by up to 50 percent. Developed by the University of Glasgow with Loughborough, Strathclyde, Leeds, Reading, and Brunel Universities, and funded by both the Ministry of Defense and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the new uniform will comprise photovoltaic cells to harness the sun’s energy, as well as thermoelectric devices that turn temperature differentials into electricity (see: Seebeck Effect).
SOLAR SOLDIERS
But the power system isn’t just a way to alleviate soldiers’ physical burden. (Batteries can make up more than 10 percent of the 100 to 150 pounds of equipment they carry, according to Duncan Gregory, a chemistry professor at the University of Glasgow and the project’s lead researcher.) By eliminating the need to return to base for recharging, the solar pack also increases the potential range and duration of military operations. Plus, the system will absorb energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, making troops harder to detect by infrared night-vision equipment.
The U.K. project is the first to marry thermoelectric devices with solar cells to generate power without interruption, 24/7.
Although equipping soldiers with solar-powered gear isn’t a new concept, the U.K. project is the first to marry thermoelectric devices with solar cells to generate power without interruption, 24/7. The research team is also looking to weave both devices into a soldier’s battle dress—a feat that hasn’t been attempted before. Of course, the fact that the system will tap into clean and free energy sources isn’t lost on the researchers or the military, either.
“We aim to produce a prototype system within two years,” Gregory says in a press release. “We also anticipate that the technology that we develop could be adapted for other and very varied uses. One possibility is in niche space applications for powering satellites; another could be to provide means to transport medicines or supplies at cool temperatures in disaster areas, or to supply fresh food in difficult economic or climatic conditions.”
Scientists across the United Kingdom are working on a solar-powered kit that could lighten the load of soldiers—and, more important, increase their mobility—by up to 50 percent. Developed by the University of Glasgow with Loughborough, Strathclyde, Leeds, Reading, and Brunel Universities, and funded by both the Ministry of Defense and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the new uniform will comprise photovoltaic cells to harness the sun’s energy, as well as thermoelectric devices that turn temperature differentials into electricity (see: Seebeck Effect).
SOLAR SOLDIERS
But the power system isn’t just a way to alleviate soldiers’ physical burden. (Batteries can make up more than 10 percent of the 100 to 150 pounds of equipment they carry, according to Duncan Gregory, a chemistry professor at the University of Glasgow and the project’s lead researcher.) By eliminating the need to return to base for recharging, the solar pack also increases the potential range and duration of military operations. Plus, the system will absorb energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, making troops harder to detect by infrared night-vision equipment.
The U.K. project is the first to marry thermoelectric devices with solar cells to generate power without interruption, 24/7.
Although equipping soldiers with solar-powered gear isn’t a new concept, the U.K. project is the first to marry thermoelectric devices with solar cells to generate power without interruption, 24/7. The research team is also looking to weave both devices into a soldier’s battle dress—a feat that hasn’t been attempted before. Of course, the fact that the system will tap into clean and free energy sources isn’t lost on the researchers or the military, either.
“We aim to produce a prototype system within two years,” Gregory says in a press release. “We also anticipate that the technology that we develop could be adapted for other and very varied uses. One possibility is in niche space applications for powering satellites; another could be to provide means to transport medicines or supplies at cool temperatures in disaster areas, or to supply fresh food in difficult economic or climatic conditions.”
SUN WORSHIP
The RLX line for men is designed for luxury, technology, as well as performance, and the new solar backpack is befitting of that ideal. Besides thick adjustable shoulder straps, the backpack includes a handle on its side for use as a portfolio. Perfect for carting around your laptop or iPad on your next boating expedition, the carryall zaps up a 3.45 watt current, which can charge a small device in two to three hours when the sun is at full strength.
The bag zaps up a 3.45-watt current, which charges a small device in two to three hours when the sun is at full strength.
The backpack is available in orange and black for the princely sum of $795, although you can purchase an identical version, sans solar panel, for $400 less. Yacht owners only need apply.
Woolrich Partners With Agion to Launch Stink-Resistant Outerwear
by Bridgette Meinhold, 01/27/11
If you spend a lot of time in the outdoors, you know your clothes can take on a mighty stench. Something about that wicking technology retains rank odors even if it does help your regulate your temps better and keep you nice and dry. But adventurers with sensitive schnozes now have reason to rejoice. At the Outdoor Retailer Market in Salt Lake City last week, Woolrich (“The Original Outdoor Clothing Company”) announced a partnership with Agion, a leader in odor-fighting solutions, to produce a line of outerwear that eliminates that not-so-fresh feeling without frequent laundering. The secret? Silver ions.
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS
Woolrich and Agion’s line will feature a one-two punch of antimicrobial protection and industrial-strength odor elimination, both on and around the fabric. Agion’s silver-ion technology puts the kibosh on odor-causing bacteria, while a natural, proprietary odor-trapping solution captures molecules from ambient odors. The company also promises that the garment will continue to perform, even after repeated washing and wear.Agion’s silver-ion technology puts the kibosh on odor-causing bacteria, while a natural, proprietary odor-trapping solution captures molecules from ambient odors.
This all sounds fine and dandy because we’re tired of our thermal undies and workout gear smelling like wet dog. Reports about the silver nanoparticles harming plant life, however, give us pause. (We love high-tech textiles but not at the cost of the environment.) When we raised the question, Agion told us it uses very little silver, which are not nanoparticles, and the technology is totally benign.“Agion’s silver technology is not nanosilver. The particles are much larger.” Cyndy Hunter, the company’s vice president of marketing, tells Ecouterre. “Agion not only has the widest regulatory portfolio of registrations, but has also been Bluesign-approved and is also Cradle to Cradle-approved.”
Agion’s technology is used for in-body medical devices, such as catheters, as well as to preserve food and purify water. Extensive studies have been performed to determine the technology’s environmental impact, according to Hunter. “The technology uses very little silver since it is a controlled release,” she says. “And the silver is bound up chemically when released and is completely benign and no longer active.”
The collection will be available this fall.