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Comment by Prama Bhardwaj on July 21, 2009 at 14:26

Hi Kate - good debate!!

I dont have the answer, but instead a few thoughts to build on what
Ethical - do you mean its not harming anyone (ie non-exploitative, safe conditions) or is it actually a force for doing good (in which case you might want to think about co-operatives / working with disadvantaged groups in the developing world, people who need the skills/livelihood)

Environmental - looking at the whole product lifecycle. The carbon footprint, water footprint, recycling-ability, how far can you avoid dyes and chemicals, how is effluent treated, what is the effect on the local environment .... How far does the material move around (eg are you shipping raw material to different locations for each stage of the supply chain and then to the final market) but more importantly how does it travel (sea rather than air!!)

I only work with cotton, but I've heard interesting things about new fibres such as soya and banana. Then there's hemp. Bamboo is debatable because of the amount
of water / chemicals used in its finishing. Tencel seems quite virtuous though....

I hope you'll post your findings for us to see! Good luck

Comment by Kate Louise Hutchinson on July 21, 2009 at 12:43

In response to your helpful comments below, I was thinking along the lines of an item that is ethical in as many aspects as possible.

For example, if I grow organic cotton in my backyard and hand weave and hand sew a garment for myself, is this a theoretically fully ethical item of clothing?

Obviously I know it is not a practical solution for the fashion industry though!

Comment by Kate Louise Hutchinson on July 21, 2009 at 12:40

Just to let you all know applications and nominations are now being accepted for the 2009 ONE Africa Award.

www.ONE.org/africaaward

This award honours outstanding contributions by Africans who are leading the fight against poverty and preventable disease on the continent.

Kate

Comment by Anrette Ngafor on July 21, 2009 at 12:38

like Meaghan points on some facts on the true essence of being ethical.
Unless one really looks at different aspect such as the wage factor , the conditions in which this garments are produced and the different types of materials then you can truly define what is the most ethical piece of clothing.

Comment by Meaghan Curry on July 21, 2009 at 12:29

I think it all depends on what you deem to be truly ethical.

For some it is a social matter and that people are getting proper wages, (in and of itself a question to be considered, as in what is a proper wage: minimum or living, and then what is that?).

For some it is a matter of the environment and whether it is assisting it, or just not using any raw materials.

I feel that once one has this defined for themselves, then they can describe the most ethical item of clothing...it's still ambiguous though.

Comment by Anrette Ngafor on July 21, 2009 at 12:21

but you can also look at the woven fabric from Africa ! used by the Kenyan for the traditional outfits

Comment by Anrette Ngafor on July 21, 2009 at 12:18

I may have to agree with david on this !

Comment by David McGill on July 21, 2009 at 10:37

Thats easy. A tartan skirt

Comment by Kate Louise Hutchinson on July 21, 2009 at 10:15

Can anyone help me answer the following question?...

What is the most ethical item of clothing you know of?

Please consider both social issues and environmental issues. I'm writing an essay for a tutor at uni and any help would be greatly appreciated Thanks,

Kate

Comment by Marle Drotsky on July 20, 2009 at 14:29

Hi Renato,

Just to say hello(!), my name is Marle...I've got a new eco-friendly clothing label in SA: mot. eco-trendy lifestyle. I'm hoping to start outsourcing and getting my label onto the commercial market later this year, been doing private clients for about two years now! Good luck with all you are planning!

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