Initial 1-Paragraph-Feedback
I found this presentation fell a bit short solely due to the content that was shared. I didn’t appreciate one of the videos being so pessimistic, recounting how humans are effectively destroying the planet for our own greed. I felt decently depressed afterwards, the question then became: was that constructive? Is it constructive to make us feel guilty and resentful about simply existing in a society that is greedy and selfish? Of course, our individual choices can have some impact, but the fact of the matter is there is no ethical consumption under capitalism. Unless we were to attempt to evaporate the current government- I’m not sure being so judgemental is constructive.
Research for D&T: The Sustainability of Luxury Fashion
As luxury fashion is at such a high price point, it is often considered to be more ethical and sustainable. Although, this is not always the case. Oftentimes, the high price point comes from the brand’s packaging and iconic name, not actual good quality materials and environmentally friendly processing. Any production on a large scale will not be environmentally friendly due to the use of resources, although one would expect the price point to be a bit more considerate.
Luxury fashion moguls oftentimes carry the same issues considering their sustainability efforts. Over production is seen as one of their largest issues, where companies will make more product than consumed, leading to excess waste. Furthermore, there is a prevalent lack of transparency among the brands, especially considering their supply chain and production processes. Finally, and most importantly, most large scale fashion moguls will pride themselves on their 100% real leather, which is a big issue considering just how unethical and unsustainable it is.
Leather is considered by many to be unsustainable due to a number of reasons:
- Environmental impact: The production of leather involves the use of chemicals, such as chromium and formaldehyde, which are harmful to the environment and human health. The tanning process also consumes large amounts of water and energy, and generates significant amounts of waste and pollution.
- Animal welfare: The production of leather involves the use of animal hides, which raises ethical concerns about the treatment of animals. Some leather production practices involve cruelty, such as the use of intensive farming methods, inhumane transportation, and killing methods that are often painful and distressing for the animals.
- Land use: Leather production requires large amounts of land to raise livestock, which can contribute to deforestation, land degradation, and habitat destruction.
- Carbon footprint: The livestock industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and leather production contributes to this carbon footprint. According to some estimates, the livestock industry accounts for around 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
For these reasons, many consumers and environmental advocates have called for a shift towards more sustainable and ethical alternatives to leather, such as plant-based materials like cork, pineapple leather, and mushroom leather.