| In the western world we have become a | | | | remain unworn. How many of us can honestly |
| throwaway culture. But we need to ask some | | | | say that we do not have at least one draw full of |
| important questions rather than accepting this as | | | | unwanted and scarcely worn clothes. I am |
| part of modern life. Is it sustainable? On a purely | | | | ashamed to say that I cannot but I am making |
| practical note the processes and the chemicals | | | | efforts to reform. |
| involved in the bleaching, dying and other finishing | | | | Babies and small children grow out of their clothes |
| stages of non organic textiles require that there | | | | very fast so we do need to consider how we |
| be wise use to reduce the overall environmental | | | | can recycle textiles. I would certainly advocate |
| impact. This involves the encouragement of | | | | buying organic cotton and other organic textiles |
| cleaner production, prevention and minimization of | | | | but we need to look at ways of ensuring that |
| waste, reuse and of course recycling. The main | | | | clothing is well utilized and enjoyed. One obvious |
| environmental impacts arise from the intensive | | | | way is to pass clothes through the family . |
| energy consumption at all stages of growing and | | | | Otherwise take outgrown clothes to charity |
| production and the quantities of chemicals and | | | | shops. I have recently heard it suggested that we |
| water used. | | | | should rent out children's clothes to ensure |
| Are we willing to take responsibility for the fact | | | | maximum use. I am not sure how this would |
| that the cheap goods that we enjoy are paid for | | | | work on a commercial basis but perhaps I am |
| in other cultures with below minimum wages, lack | | | | missing out on a terrific opportunity. There are a |
| of union representation and forced child labour. | | | | multitude of mother and baby clubs and groups |
| You may answer that this is nothing to do with | | | | out there so it should certainly be possible to |
| us and should be dealt with in those countries | | | | arrange something on a local basis and if it |
| involved but it is not so simple as that., | | | | became a norm it would be widely accepted. |
| An interesting article in the Saturday telegraph | | | | We need to change our expectations and stop |
| magazine highlighted these issues. Whilst many | | | | being slaves to fashion and consumerism. If |
| major chain stores in the UK are now selling | | | | retailers priced their clothes more realistically we |
| organic cotton garments and vaunting that they | | | | would be forced to learn to be thrifty and use the |
| are adhering to ethical standards in factories; | | | | clothes we buy to their full potential. It is not idle |
| workers are still being paid a minimum wage. This | | | | comment to say that we cannot continue to |
| is because those same retailers are reluctant to | | | | dissipate the world's resources as we are |
| raise their prices to consumers in order to pay a | | | | currently doing. We have used more goods and |
| living wage to workers in the third world. As a | | | | services since 1950 than in the rest of human |
| result we as consumers are encouraged to buy | | | | history. A sobering thought I think. |
| garments that we do not need and they often | | | | |