"We are at a unique stage in our history. Never before have we had such an awareness of what we are doing to the planet, and never before have we had the power to do something about that… The future of humanity and indeed, all life on earth, now depends on us." - David Attenborough. From David Attenborough to world leaders, we are hearing that the next decade will determine … [Read more...]
New industry guidelines for recyclable plastic packaging released
Smart, sustainably sourced and recyclable packaging design – which keeps plastic out of the environment – is becoming essential to a business’s bottom line. The growing impact of the green economy on company profits has forced brands both big and small to radically transform their environmental strategies, including how their products are designed, made and packaged for … [Read more...]
Inaugural awards seek eco-minded fashionistas
The inaugural Twyg Sustainable Fashion Awards are aimed at recognising South African designers who have adopted a sustainable design approach and fostered ethical practices in the fashion industry. They are open for nominations until August 18. Aside from the student award, all nominees must have been in business for at least one year and be able to demonstrate ethical … [Read more...]
Viva la fashion revolution
Recently the world celebrated International Fashion Revolution Day. This day was held in honour of the 1 129 factory workers who died and the 2 515 who were injured when Rana Plaza clothing factory in Bangladesh collapsed in April 2013. People from around the globe were called into action by taking selfies with their clothing labels with the supporting hash tag … [Read more...]
Clothing that doesn’t cost the earth
Hemp fibre is stronger and more durable than cotton. Hemp produces as much as 4 times the paper pulp per acre compared to trees. Hemp stalk can be used for building purposes. The seed is recognised as the single most nutritious source of non-animal protein on Earth. No other single resource that can provide us with so many diverse products at such a small cost to the … [Read more...]
Are your Levi’s poisoning you?
Over the weekend South Africans joined the global call for Levi's to Detox. Over 700 activists in over 80 cities around the world made their voices heard and demanded that Levi's eliminate all hazardous chemicals from its clothing and supply chains. Through street art and creative confrontation Greenpeace demanded Levi's, the world's biggest jeans producer, to "go forth" and … [Read more...]
Join the toxic-free clothing chorus
Zara, the world’s largest clothing retailer, today announced a commitment to go toxic-free following nine days of intense public pressure. This win belongs to the fashion-lovers, activists, bloggers and denizens of social media. This is people power in action. Greenpeace campaigners began a dialogue with Zara (a brand within the Inditex group) in 2011 about eliminating … [Read more...]
Outdoor wear ‘often coated in harmful chemicals’
Outdoor clothing brands are selling women’s and children’s clothes with perfluorinated and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and other hazardous chemicals, according to findings from two independent laboratories commissioned by Greenpeace Germany. The findings were revealed by Greenpeace Germany today in the report Chemistry for any weather. The report shows that products … [Read more...]
Where do all the clothes go?
Whilst researching an article on the lifespan of underwear, I got to thinking, “what is the average lifespan of clothing?" International research showed the lifespan of clothing is an average of four years. Typically in a country where we play it forward, the lifespan is much longer. I decided to delve deeper to understand what processes we had in place in South Africa that … [Read more...]
Hemp in South Africa: the possibilities are endless
You can't get high on hemp, but you can create clothing, housing, food, fuel, natural plastics and other locally useful and globally marketable consumer products out of it. And oh yeah, did we mention jobs, and lots of them. Hemp is already a multi $ billion a year industry and growing. We want SOUTH AFRICA to join these countries that are already growing hemp: AUSTRALIA, … [Read more...]
Robben Island beaches enjoy green sweep
Robben Island had her beaches swept of junk last Saturday when PETCO, the Plastics Federation and the Overberg community launched a big clean-up initiative. The clean-up generated no less than 15 bags of recycling material including plastic, glass, and metal in two hours. John Kieser, environmental manager of the Plastics Federation was the host of the clean-up and guided … [Read more...]
Calls for Duduza relief aid
"We are worried about school; we have no bags, no stationery, no uniforms. We will fall behind in our education whilst other children will work". During a trauma counselling session with children affected by the tornado in Duduza, besides an overwhelming fear of the "black wind with two eyes" or "the snake that laid its eggs," the preoccupation and greatest anxiety was the … [Read more...]
Trends for a new earth
The earth is angry. Fuming. Trends forecaster Li Edelkoort's seminars held recently in Cape Town and Johannesburg didn't begin with images of stick-thin models or in-vogue interiors, but rather with pictures of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, man-made disasters and sea birds strangled in plastic and oil. The trend prophet has spoken. Her predictions hold a wake-up call … [Read more...]
