Science Museum and Trash Fashion Exhibit

The Trash Fashion exhibit really opened my eyes to just how wasteful the textile industry really is and how the consumer society we live in is only promoting this and extending the environmental impact of the industry on the environment. Every year more than 1 million tons of textiles end up in landfill- either from industry where wasteful pattern lays mean that 15% of the fabric is thrown on the floor and wasted, from shops which have to guess sizes and shapes of their consumer and end up burning or throwing away many clothes which are unsold, or from people and customers who throw away on average 26 items of clothing a year. This all results in a lot of waste which takes years to decay and an irreversible impact on the environment.

When fabrics are dyed if not done carefully then the 70+ toxic chemicals can run into the water supply and leave it contaminated, which destroys the environment and makes it unsafe for human consumption.

Donna Sgro

In answer to this problem Sgro has created Morphotex. This is a fabric which appears as if it has been dyed, however really the fabric was developed to mimic nature by copying the structure of the morpho butterfly so the colourless fabric reflects the light and seems to shimmer and glow. I think this fabric is really beautiful and could have many uses in the high end fashion markets because of the finish the material has.

Kate Goldsworthy

Polyester garments can actually be easily recycled however once any dyes and finishes are added to them they are impossible to break down. To overcome this problem Goldsworthy has used a laser to effect the surface of the dress. This process allows her to decorate, cut, join and create pattern and texture on the fabric without the need of polluting chemicals and dyes therefore the garment can be recycled once it is finished with.

One main problem of the textiles industry is the biodegradability of materials as synthetic fibre's take centuries to degrade however although natural fibres may biodegrade a lot faster, they also release methane which contributes to global warming.

David Andersen

In response to this a plastic form called PLA (Polylactic Acid) has been developed from plants such as corn, wheat and sugar cane or beet which breaks down naturally and doesn't pollute as it degrades. Not only is this material made from a renewable and sustainable source which doesn't have a negative environmental effect, it can also be broken down and recycled. There could be an impact on the environment with growing more crops, however there are areas of the world where hundreds of tons of food ends up as waste and this would be perfect to use. This dress shows how plastic,

which would usually not be considered a fashionable material, can be used to make beautiful creations which could be worn to any special occasion.

There is a growing need to create clothes which people love and will wear for longer as they don't want to throw them away. This does mean making clothes more expensive however through using 3D technology to create a garment which is designed specifically to fit you, but this would mean less waste fabric and less waste from the consumer culture.

Challenge of Materials Gallery

Materials I liked the texture and appearance of or had never seen before.

Polytheme Foam- (Black squishy material) Has good chemical resistance, it doesn't corrode and has good dynamic properties. Is commonly used in cushion packaging, car seals, life jackets, body protection and helmet liners.

Linen- (Soft green fabric) Natural fibre made from flax. It is the oldest vegetable fibre with samples recovered from ancient Egypt 3500 years old. Phoenician traders used to market the fabric in the Mediterranean ports to be worn by Greek, egyptian and Jewish priests as a sign of purity.

Wood Cement- (Web like structure, hard, bone coloured material) Made from long fibres of seasoned softwood timber which is coated in Portland cement and bonded under pressure to form strong boards or slabs. It has good structural, acoustic and thermal properties and is fire resistant. It is used in soundproofing radio, TV and film studios and cinemas.

• Rubber- (Material which looks like wood but is squishy) Natural material produced mostly in Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia where a mature tree can yield 3kg of rubber a year however this is increased through cloning. The raw material is mixed with acid to create sheets.