Trash Fashion

Visiting the Science Museum this weekend, hidden behind the astronauts I found there was a great little exhibition about sustainable fashion. Some fascinating technologies on display including a bespoke sweater that was knitted to a pattern made by 3D body scanners. This eliminates textile waste in the manufacturing process, and potentially means we can all enjoy a bespoke fitting wardrobe. I like the idea of carrying my vital statistics around on a swipe card - not only an incentive to lay off the pies, but the technology can also be used to allow us to try on clothes virtually - if you have ever become stuck in a garment in a shop changing room, this may be the technology breakthrough you've been waiting for.

Another section was on the use of dyes, which are one of the heaviest polluting parts of the garment industry and use a huge amount of water. In general textiles are woven first and dyed afterwards. This results both in uneven colouration across the fabric, and in the case of synthetics (which do not absorb dye) it becomes pretty messy, environmentally. A company called DyeCat has developed a new process where the catalyst used in making the synthetic material also contains a colour giving compound. This means that instead of adding dye over the top of the fabric, it is inherent in the fabric itself, making it completely colour fast. Less pollution, less water usage and maybe even an end to the red sock in the white wash dilemma.