Personalized Touch

It seems that when people have an emotional attachment to a product they tend to take better care of it. They want it to last a long time and don't want to have to replace it. As discussed in Design Activism,  overconsumption is creating many environmental issues. The rich 20 percent of the population, which includes us, is creating many of these problems because of their mass consumption. We are using more than we have and we know there has to be a change. However, the real question is how?

In Design Activism they discuss how the focus of design should be on society and transforming a sustainable way of living. Like discussed earlier, society seems to have a different level of connection with a product that means something to them. A 'halfway' product is something that allows a consumer to complete a product by adding their own personal touch which creates an emotional attachment. If a consumer uses their own creativity and stories to make a product then it will mean more to them. Which in turn will make them want to take better care of the product, not allowing it to go to waste or easily replacing it.

My idea would be creating a store where you can design your own belt. The store will supply you with a leather belt with just holes, no buckle. The customer will have a wide variety of buckles to choose from to add on to their belt. Next, the customer will be able to design their belt however they desire. There will be paint, stamps that will imprint the leather, and jewels to create your own design. Once you are done, the belt will be sealed for protection and to ensure a long lifetime. Customers can create their own story through the design and it will be unique. Belts are something that are used often and can be worn many times. It is ideal to have a belt that has emotional meaning to you so you don't have to keep buying more and more. Not only will this help save on overconsumption but it also a fun activity that you can do with friends or family.

I feel that this class made me aware of all of the environmental problems that I had no idea about before. One of the most valuable things I have learned is that we need to educate people if we want to see a change. Change starts not only with designers and manufacturers but also consumers. No one will be encouraged to make a change if they aren't aware of the problems. I plan to take all the information from this course and spread the word in the workforce. I want to educate people so we can all work together to make a change. However, one thing I would like to learn more about is organic materials. I would like to learn in depth about how it works vs. using chemicals. I think going organic is great but I would like to be more aware of exactly what that entails.

Time to Get Technical

Imagine a world with no waste. In the article Textile futures: Fashion, design and technology, Earley brings up the point that creating clothing for long term use is not the answer to our environmental problems because after it goes out of style there will be no use for it anymore. That's where McDonough and Braungart's idea of "upcycling" comes in to play. This concept allows what would be waste to be reintroduced back to the top of the consumer chain. By implementing "upcycling" into our world, we maybe could see a time where there is no such thing as waste.

My idea will focus on technical metabolism. In the article C2CAD they describe technical nutrients as a product that will continuously circulate within "closed-loop" industrial cycles while remaining the same value as when it started. They also address the issue of how reusing and recycling clothing from more than one material and using permanent junctions can be difficult. That is why I will be sticking to 100% polyester and as little junctions as possible.

My idea is making polyester neckties in to bracelets. The only supplies I will need is a pair of scissors. I will take two neckties and intertwine them together.They will be secured together at one in with polyester string and a polyester button. Some ties come with buttons attached so I will use that button and I will use thread form the tie to secure the button. At the other end I will cut a small slit in both ties, overlap them and then put the button through both slits to secure it around the wrist. The bracelet will be avaliable in all sizes. Some of the bracelets will be made from the thickest part of the tie, some from the thinnest and some with one piece from the thick part and the other from the thin part. The patterns will be mixed together so no two bracelets will be alike. This will allow for variety and individualism. This will also allow for every part of the tie to be reused so nothing goes to waste.

Waste = Food!

Recycling has become more and more popular through recent years. However, the focus has been mainly on downcycling and it's time to make a shift more toward upcycling. Upcycling means creating a product that is worth as much or more than the original product. Designing products that allow upcycling should be is key. We need to understand that waste = food.

In the Cradle to Cradle video, they discuss how they set out to find a safe way to dye. In the end they succeeded, which allowed for their left over materials to be recycled and used for mulch for gardening. The product was just as useful and beneficial in it's second life as the first. In the article Cradle to Cradle, by McDonough and Braungart, it discusses the two type of metabolism, biological and technical. A biological nutrient is a product that is created to return to the biological cycle, meaning consumed by animals and microorganisms in the soil. The product goes back into the environment.

My idea is to make shoe boxes made from polylactic acid, potato and other vital nutrients. This would create more of a plastic like box, but much stronger, instead of cardboard. The plastic is not only stronger but more flexible so it doesn't snap or crack like normal plastic. It is 100% biodegradable and can be used as gardening soil once broken down. Most shoe boxes just go to waste because there is not much use for them after you buy the shoes. This shoe box with come of great use after the shoes are out. Once out in the right environment the shoebox will compost rapidly. The consumer themselves can use it
for their own garden. Or they can take it to a recycling bin that will be in most shoes stores which will ensure the products get their proper use for their second life. Another benefit to this shoe box is the material is less expensive than plastic so the overall production would cost less also. The waste of this product in coming back around in it's second life to create food for the environment.

Expanding Ideas

The concept of biomemicry opens up a world of ideas for future products. The focus is now on creating concepts/ideas for future products. There is only one way to ensure a sustainable future and that is to take action. Benyus provides great IE information to use your imagination and expand on.

Two more principles of IE that Jane Benyus addressed that I found important for my concept were "Gather and use energy efficiently" and "Optimizing Rather than maximizing." Gathering and using energy efficiently can be done by using current sunlight as renewable energy. In the book Textile futures: Fashion, design, and technology, Quinn explains how our products today mimic nature and how we use nature today. Peacocks feathers are not actually colorful, they look that way because of the material and how the sunlight reflects. Morphotex is a colorful textile made without dyes or pigments. It gains color by the reflection of light and the angle that the light hits. I think creating a clothing line that uses only materials like morphotex would be ideal because you aren't using the energy or chemicals that it requires to dye clothing. Using nature is one of the best ways to save on energy and materials.

"Optimizing rather than maximizing", discusses how our world today focuses of making products as fast as possible and getting them to the consumer as fast as possible. This creates no diversity and 85% of manufactured products quickly become waste so there has to be a better way to do this. In the book Sustainable Fashion & Textiles: Design Journey, Fletcher talks about the benefits of producing locally. Producing locally is a much slower process but it allows for diversity. Also it provides environmental benefits by reducing emission form transportation,  encouraging social engagement and creating diversity. I think selling the line of clothing made from materials like morphotex at these local stores would be an efficient idea.  This will allow for one-of-a-kind products that consumers are striving for these days. 

My Concepts for Survival

As we all know by now, our world and environment are headed toward a major crisis. Now, we have to think about a logical solution to this problem. The time has come to develop a concept and plan that leads to a solution. No solution will be reached by simply tweaking the current system. We must replace portions of our economy will another type of economy until the system mirrors the natural world.

Janine Benyus provides a number of principles of industrial ecology and goes into detail about each. However, there were a couple that stood out to me. The first being, "use waste as a resource." The bottom line is that our system needs more recycling loops to keep it from collapsing. We can't take more from the environment than is available to us so instead we must build a no waste economy by recycling and reusing. The goal is to create a system where a minimum of raw materials comes in the doors and minimum waste escapes. This can be achieved by companies working together. One companies wastes could be another companies resources. Companies can us their waste to heat peoples' homes. Apparel companies can take left over scraps, from fabrics such as denim, and use them to insulate homes and in result save energy. Any waste is valuable and can be used for something efficient. Another concept that could be used is lake-back laws. Companies will be required to take-back merchandise from the consumer and either repair the product or reuse the material on another product. This way the company can mostly survive off of recycled material and not have to waste materials. In return, the consumer will receive a bonus, like savings off next purchase, for taking back the products. Last, refilling containers on cosmetics and toiletries is already a concept that has been in action. However, this can be expanded greatly but eventually filling up containers like condiments and cleaning supplies so you can avoid wasting materials by buying a new bottle every time.

The second Jane Benyus' principle of industrial ecology that stood out to me was to "use materials sparingly." Organisms build for durability by building exactly what is needed, no more or no less. They do this by using the maximum amount of space in a minimum amount of material. One structure can have multiple purposes or functions. This will means that fewer products will have to be produced if you can achieve the same results from one product instead of having to use 3 or 4 different products. As the amount of functions of a product grow the size of the product shrinks. For example, the iPhone is now a phone, computer, tv, camera, etc. My concept would be a solar powered lunchbox for that could be heated or cooled. It would allow for your food to stay warm without having to use energy by heating it up or allow it to stay cool without having to use energy to refrigerate it.

If we can take in and learn from these lessons found in nature, there is hope that we can turn this crisis around for the better.

Visioneering Project: Part I

Do the stories you tell yourself contribute to optimism or pessimism?
In general I think of myself as a optimistic person. I am always trying to look for the good in people and situations. However, when it comes to certain topics, like if you asked me a few weeks ago if I envision a sustainable future, I would of said no. Now, I see a different side. Over the past few weeks I have become well informed about the problems we face today with the environment and what we need to do to make a change. From becoming aware and learning this information about the environment, I now have an optimistic envision of a sustainable environment. The article Thinking Ahead: The Value of Future Consciousness describes it perfectly when they talk about how when you have a pessimistic view "you are more likely to do things that increase the likelihood that you will fail again." Basically you are setting yourself up for failure. The future holds possibilities so you might as well anticipate positive rather than negative. By having an optimistic envision on a sustainable future, I feel that you are more likely to see positive results.

What are the key tenets or characteristics that define you vision?
-Recycle
-Inform and Educate
-Control Consumption

What are the mental modes (or beliefs) which will be required to create that future? What would on have to believe to bring about your vision? 
-You can make a difference. Recycling is almost like a trend. If you recycle, you never know who will follow in your footsteps. Everyone should recycle. It doesn't take much extra time or effort. Recycling clothing takes just as much effort as throwing it away so you might as well recycle it.
-By becoming aware and learning about the problems we face today with environmental sustainability you will be more willing to make an effort towards change because you will realize the problems we face are real but there is something you can do about it.
-Only use what you actually need.

What are some habitual beliefs (the stories we tell ourselves) which may present barriers to your vision? 
In the article Visioneering: an essential framework in sustainability science it talks about how one of the first steps toward sustainability is to envision a sustainable world. It is impossible to envision a sustainable world when you are unaware of the sustainability issues the world faces today. Most people are not well-informed about the issues we face today and how severe they are. I know that a few weeks ago I had no idea that there were so many problems. I didn't think that I could make a change, mostly because I didn't know what the issues were and I wasn't interested. People need to realize that learning about our environmental issues is necessary and that they can make a difference by changing little things in their daily life. For example, reusing materials or recycling clothing. Every single person makes a difference. When one person hops on, more people are likely to join which is what creates a big difference. The article Limiting Consumption: Toward a Sustainable Culture talks about the problems with over consumption and underconsumption. People need to give up the idea that money equals self-worth because this will get you nowhere. Studies have shown that money doesn't by happiness so why do people over consumer? Advertising. Advertising is one of the main reasons why people overconsume. People buy into all these great ads and buy things they don't need and may never use. One solution is that ads are gearing more towards teaching sustainability but ultimately it is up to you.  It may be hard but you need to try to not buy into these ads for the sake of the environment and yourself.

How might you communicate and engage others in your vision that will compel them to follow?
In order to engage others in my vision I will have to be truthful and give them the facts in a way that they will understand. It is important to always be truthful so people will put their trust in me and my vision. Also they need to understand my vision and I can do this by boldly stating the facts. I think also stating what good will come out of this for them is important. Because no matter what people will always be concerned with themselves and they need to know that they will also benefit from this. People will save time, money and the environment by engaging in my vision.

hemp hemp hooray!

Hemp is a very valuable fiber because of it's several uses. Not only can it be used in apparel but it can be eaten, sat on, written on, painted on and even slathered on your body. When most people think about hemp, they associate it with hippies or all things natural. This stereotype has actually has created some problems here in the United States. However, in a way it can be looked at as a good thing because consumers are becoming more and more concerned with "buying green" and hemp is a very natural fiber that causes little harm to the environment.

Hemp comes in several forms and the US doesn't distinguish between marijuana and the non-psychotic cannabis. This means that hemp is not allowed to be grown in the US. Hemp can be imported to the US but cannot be grown here. According to Hemp: Historic Fiber Remains Controversial, a small group of hemp enthusiasts called "hempsters" have come together to introduce bills to legalize hemp growing in the US. As of now, the US is the only member of the G7 alliance that is not allowed to grow hemp. The DEA says that the two plants are indistinguishable but Steve DeAngelo, CEO of Ecolution, says that the growing method is different. He explains that in a field the recreational plants are spaced out apart from each other, while hemp plants are grown in close proximity to each other. In the movie Hempsters: Plant the Seed, the also discuss the controversy with the US growing hemp plants. Hemp activist Woody Harrelson plays a main part in the film who shows off his clothing made from hemp. These hempster activists in the film are trying to get the production of hemp to be legal in the US. They are trying to get people to learn the facts about hemp. The interest in hemp is steadily increasing for many reasons, especially its environmental benefits as well as better marketing. Hemp is and expensive fiber so we would save on the cost of importing it if we could produce it here in the US. I do not think that is a good choice on the US's part to not produce hemp. I also do not agree with their reasoning, like DeAngelo stated these are two different varieties and the growing methods of the two are different. I think it would be a great success for the US if we could grow hemp here.

Hemp: Historic Fiber Remains Controversial, emphasizes on how hemp is a growing market because of it's eco-friendly factors. Hemp is often compared to linen and cotton. Hemp and linen have similar growing methods. Hemp, unlike cotton, uses no pesticides to produce and requires little water. Yitzac Goldstein, VP of HTI, says farmers will benefit from the low water use because it will dave them money. Hemp also takes a much shorter time to grow than both cotton and linen. The problem with hemp compared to cotton it that is it much more costly to produce because we don't have the proper technology and there is limited access. Eric Steenstra of Ecolution introduced the term "cottonizing of hemp" which means producing hemp on equipment made for cotton. The results will create better and much stronger hemp. This to me sounds like an idea that could change the ways of hemp for the better. When you combine the fact the hemp is much more environmentally friendly than cotton and much stronger, I would have to say that hemp could become the new cotton. Especially, if hemp can be spun fine enough, it will be a huge competition to cotton and linen. It's because of these factors that more and more people are leaning toward hemp. Big name designers in that fashion industry and slowing adopting the use of hemp into their clothing. This is another thing that will be a huge benefit and cause a huge boost of the hemp fiber. In the article Are You Being Bamboozled? they discuss how you never know if you are for sure being properly informed about the products you are buying. By buying bamboo you may think you are being environmentally conscious. However, that is not always the case because it contain rayon. It is important to be aware of what you are buying. All of the facts have been laid out about hemp and we know that it is good for our environment.

When it comes to cotton, bamboo and hemp, each has their benefits and each has their negatives. However, if a consumer is concerned with going green, I think hemp is the way to go. At the rate that hemp is improving, I think it's on it's way to becoming the new cotton. The US needs to jump on board before they are left behind.