Science Museum Study Task

Theory Science Museum – Trash Fashion

1.              Reflective notes on your experience of the exhibition

I thought the exhibition was quite small and not what I was expecting, but there was so much information provided, such as research that could be used and interesting facts to be read were vast.  There were many thoughts, views and things to learn from the exhibition, even if you weren’t a student and just visiting the exhibition.  At first I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to be researching and recording notes from.  I felt the exhibition was quite confusing and not well laid out. 

2.              What you learnt

I learnt that the exhibition was portraying a message, not just to fashion or textile students researching into different topics, but also to the general public who view the exhibition, stating that even though fashion is fast-changing all the time, clothes can be worn more than once, even if you’re fed up with the look because a garment can be changed and modified to new and specific trends.

3.              Explain the different processes/approaches to ‘designing out waste’ for differing projects

Discuss the merits of each approach in contributing to the sustaining the environment

What the issues might be regarding what impact they can have?

Stinging Nettle Fibres

They can be used as an alternative to cotton. Stinging nettle fibres can be turned into a fabric to be produced into garments of clothing, which is as soft or as softer as cotton and is stronger, so therefore could be a better fabric to make clothes from.

So why would anyone consider turning the stinging nettle plant into a fabric and might it help contribute to the sustaining of the environment?

There are many reasons, one being that stinging nettle is a weed and it grows just about everywhere. Researching into the plant I found that it doesn’t need pesticides and fertilizers for it to thrive. So therefore, nettle is easy and fast to grow and kind to the environment.

Also stinging nettle naturally retards flame. Which means when the plant fiber is woven in with other materials like cotton or wool, dangerous, flame-retardant chemicals don’t have to be used, so again better for the environment.

Another reason being, those stinging nettles are very strong when it’s woven into a fabric. As we know stinging nettles are stronger than cotton and it doesn’t need large amounts of chemicals than cotton does.

Recycled Polyester

Polyester can be recycled over and over again, but its not always eco-friendly.  Most fabrics and garments that are currently used are made up of 60% fibres.  Plus quite a lot of the unwanted materials end up in/on landfill sites.  Therefore so much is wasted and not kept pure, which means that it is harder and impossible to recycle and biodegrade.

Recycled polyester is not always eco-friendly but it depends on the recycling process, and the original polyester itself. Polyester is a synthetic fabric, so it’s not going to be as organic as plant fibres. Polyester has health hazards and environmental issues that make it a lot less eco-friendly than it could be.

Visiting the exhibition trash fashion I watched a video clip on the textile designer Kate Goldsworthy, who uses laser beams to cut, stitch and design patterns onto 100% recycled polyester. Also this process of laser beams gives creative freedom back to the designer. The use of this fibre means the dress is easy to recycle at the end of its life.  When experimenting with lasers to create patterns and textures, the designer must stay clear of using chemicals because they can impact with the environment and cause pollution.