Chapter 29 - Textile Choices

Functions of Clothing

  • Protection: Clothing protects us from the environment.
    • Warm, waterproof clothing (e.g., winter coat) shields from cold, wind, and rain.
    • Lighter clothing (e.g., cotton t-shirt) keeps us cool and protects from the sun.
  • Modesty: Varies based on cultural and situational factors.
    • Strict rules in some cultures (e.g., hijab for women in Iran).
    • Varies by location (e.g., work vs. beach attire).
  • Safety and Hygiene: Clothing serves protective and hygienic purposes.
    • Safety: Motorcycle leathers protect skin during falls.
    • Hygiene: Surgeons wear scrubs during operations.
  • Identification: Clothing identifies roles and affiliations.
    • Uniforms: Identify professions (e.g., police).
    • National Identity: Kilts in Scotland.
  • Self-Expression: Clothing expresses personal style.
    • Example: Goths wear black clothing.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Clothes

  • Function: Clothes should suit their intended purpose.
    • Example: A winter coat should protect from bad weather.
  • Cost: Budget influences clothing choices.
    • Example: Those on a tight budget may avoid expensive designer brands.
  • Current Fashion Trends: Popular styles influence choices.
    • Example: Choosing skinny jeans over wider legs based on trends.
  • Other People: Peer pressure can influence choices.
    • Example: Young people feeling pressure to wear certain brands.
  • Ease of Care: Washability influences choices.
    • Example: Clothes worn next to the skin should be washable.
  • Sustainability: Environmental concerns drive choices.
    • Example: Choosing natural fibers over synthetic ones.
  • Ethical Concerns: Concern for animal and human rights influences choices.
    • Example: Avoiding fur, feathers, or leather.
  • Personal Preference: Choices based on color, shape, occasion, and existing wardrobe.

Fashion

  • Definition: The style of clothing popular at a particular time.
  • Fashion Trends: Changes in what is considered fashionable.
  • Fashion Cycle: Trends come into fashion, go out, and return.
    • Example: Flared trousers.

Factors Influencing Fashion Trends

  • Fashion Industry
    • Aims to make goods desirable to increase sales.
    • Top designers show new collections in fashion shows (London, Paris, New York, Milan).
    • Haute couture: High-end, original, handmade, expensive fashion.
    • Prêt-à-porter: Less expensive, machine-made clothes from top designers, still expensive (ready to wear).
    • Off-the-peg: Mass-produced, cheaper copies of designs available in high street shops and online.
  • Famous People
    • Actors, singers, and sports stars influence trends.
    • Wearing certain items increases sales (e.g., Kate Middleton).
    • Designers pay celebrities to promote clothes (e.g., Kendall Jenner).
    • Celebrities create their own design labels (e.g., Victoria Beckham).
  • World Events and the Economy
    • World events influence style (e.g., shorter skirts during WWII due to fabric scarcity).
    • Strong economy: buy clothes more frequently, less concerned about quality.
    • Weak economy: buy fewer, good-quality pieces.
    • Economic recession: anti-establishment trends (e.g., punk in the 1970s).
  • Sustainability
    • Brands are making clothes more sustainably (e.g., using less water for denim).
    • Use of natural fibers or sustainable fabrics (e.g., Mylo).
    • Consumers making sustainable choices (e.g., shopping second hand).
  • Technology
    • New manufacturing equipment makes clothing more quickly and cheaply (e.g., laser cutting).
    • New fabrics and finishes allow new types of clothing (e.g., elastane/Lycra®).
    • Internet-based technologies market clothing (e.g., advertising, blogs, social media).
    • Online shopping provides access to latest trends.
    • One pair of jeans can use up to 10,000 litres of water.

Household Textiles

  • Soft Furnishings: Decorate rooms (e.g., curtains, cushions).
  • Upholstery: Covers furniture (e.g., sofas).
  • Carpets and Rugs: Floor coverings for warmth and sound insulation.
  • Bed Linen: Sheets, pillowcases, duvets for warmth and décor.
  • Table Linen: Tablecloths, napkins for protection and décor.
  • Towels: For cleaning and hygiene.

Properties of Textiles

  • Cool/Warm
  • Washable
  • Hardwearing
  • Colour-fast
  • Fire-resistant
  • Drapes well
  • Absorbent
  • Sustainable

Factors to Consider When Choosing Textiles for the Home

  • Function: Properties must suit the function (e.g., absorbent tea towel).
  • Cost: Influences type and quality.
  • Durability: Opt for good quality for items with heavy use (e.g., stair carpet).
  • Colour, Pattern, and Style: Should complement the room's décor.
  • Ease of Care: Washability, stain-resistance.
  • Fire Safety: Must be fire-resistant or flame-retardant, especially upholstered items.
    • Fire-resistant: Materials that do not burn easily.
    • Flame-retardant: Materials treated with chemicals.
  • Sustainability and Ecological Issues: Environmental and ethical considerations.

Ecological Issues

  • Textile production, care, and use cause ecological issues.
  • Textile Production
    • The fashion industry is responsible for 10\% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Synthetic textiles (e.g., polyester) made from fossil fuels cause pollution.
    • Chemicals used to dye fabrics contaminate water.
    • Requires large quantities of water (e.g., >100 litres to produce 1 kg of cotton).
    • Transportation contributes to air pollution.
  • Textile Care
    • Frequent washing reduces clothing life and increases water consumption (average load uses 35 litres).
    • Washing machines and tumble dryers use electricity, often from fossil fuels.
    • Cleaning agents harm the environment.
  • Textile Use
    • Discarded textiles end up in landfills.
    • Synthetic textiles are not biodegradable.

Ethical Issues

  • Human rights of textile workers.
  • Animal rights.
  • Human Rights
    • Made cheaply in developing countries.
    • Unsafe working conditions (poor ventilation, no clean water).
    • Exposure to pesticides.
    • Low wages.
    • No worker's rights (excessive overtime, punishments, no unions).
    • Child labor.
  • Animal Rights
    • Animals killed for fur, skin, or feathers.
    • Leather from countries with poor animal welfare standards.
    • Wild animals trapped.
    • Air and water pollution ruin animal habitats.
  • Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh (2013) killed 1,138 people.
  • Fashion Revolution formed to raise awareness.

Fast Fashion

  • Cheap clothing mass-produced quickly to follow trends.
  • Negative Effects
    • Poor working conditions and low wages.
    • Synthetic fabrics pollute oceans with microplastics.
    • Toxic pesticides and dyes, excessive water use.
    • High greenhouse gas emissions.
    • Clothes often thrown away after a few wears.
    • In Ireland, 63,000 tonnes of textiles go to landfill each year.

Being a Sustainable and Ethical Textile Consumer

  • Repair: Helps reduce waste.
  • Reuse: Donate to second-hand or charity shops.
  • Recycle: Can be remade into new textile products.
  • Rent: Rent instead of buying.
  • Repurpose: Use for something new (e.g., curtains into shopping bags).
  • Upcycle: Improve the original item (e.g., embellishing).