Clothing Designers Reusing Materials to Save Environment
2020-01-02
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1Clothing designers are turning to unusual plants and used materials to make products that better use natural resources.
2More people are paying closer attention to how the production of clothing affects the environment.
3However, some experts say that the idea of "buy and throw away," still rules when it comes to clothes.
4This is true -- although some famous people support a movement to reuse and recycle clothing.
5Actress Maggie Q created a line of clothes from recycled fabrics.
6She is among activists who believe more can be done to waste less.
7She says she feels "sick" about "fast fashion" -- low-cost clothes that can be worn once, then thrown away.
8The British design team, Vin + Omi, looks for creative ways to make the industry more sustainable.
9Their clothing is worn by former first lady Michelle Obama and singers Beyonce and Lady Gaga.
10The team found latex from Malaysia.
11But, when they discovered the conditions for the work there were bad, they bought the operation.
12In their office in the English countryside, they grow unusual crops for cloth development.
13These include chestnuts from trees and horseradish.
14Their latest line of clothes includes ones made from nettle plants, alpaca hair and recycled plastic from paint containers.
15Another English designer, Zoe Corsellis, keeps her carbon footprint low by manufacturing her clothes in London.
16The cloth comes from the United Kingdom and Germany.
17She makes the cloth from wood products, sea waste and something called "peace silk."
18It is considered a better method for silk worms than the traditional silk production process.
19Belgian designer Sebastiaan de Neubourg is recycling plastic bottles, car parts and machines used in homes.
20Plastic waste is collected and torn into small pieces for a 3D printer.
21"Waste, I believe, is design failure," he said.
22More famous people are also playing a part in the movement.
23They are buying vintage - or old - clothes used by people long ago. Others wear a set of clothes more than once.
24Fee Gilfeather is a sustainability expert with the nonprofit group Oxfam.
25She said there is hope that more will be done.
26"The textile industry is getting close to working out how to do fiber-to-fiber recycling," she said.
27Such recycling takes clothes that are no longer wanted or needed and breaks them down into raw materials to make new clothing.
28She said the industry needs to move faster, because carbon emissions from the textile manufacturers are predicted to increase 60 percent by 2050.
29Some fast-fashion industry leaders, including Zara and H&M stores, have launched clothing take-back plans aimed at recycling old clothes.
30But for now, recycling and a zero-waste goal is mostly a small part of the worldwide industry.
31I'm Anne Ball.
1Clothing designers are turning to unusual plants and used materials to make products that better use natural resources. 2More people are paying closer attention to how the production of clothing affects the environment. However, some experts say that the idea of "buy and throw away," still rules when it comes to clothes. 3This is true -- although some famous people support a movement to reuse and recycle clothing. 4Actress Maggie Q created a line of clothes from recycled fabrics. She is among activists who believe more can be done to waste less. 5She says she feels "sick" about "fast fashion" -- low-cost clothes that can be worn once, then thrown away. 6The British design team, Vin + Omi, looks for creative ways to make the industry more sustainable. Their clothing is worn by former first lady Michelle Obama and singers Beyonce and Lady Gaga. 7The team found latex from Malaysia. But, when they discovered the conditions for the work there were bad, they bought the operation. 8In their office in the English countryside, they grow unusual crops for cloth development. These include chestnuts from trees and horseradish. 9Their latest line of clothes includes ones made from nettle plants, alpaca hair and recycled plastic from paint containers. 10Another English designer, Zoe Corsellis, keeps her carbon footprint low by manufacturing her clothes in London. The cloth comes from the United Kingdom and Germany. She makes the cloth from wood products, sea waste and something called "peace silk." It is considered a better method for silk worms than the traditional silk production process. 11Belgian designer Sebastiaan de Neubourg is recycling plastic bottles, car parts and machines used in homes. Plastic waste is collected and torn into small pieces for a 3D printer. 12"Waste, I believe, is design failure," he said. 13More famous people are also playing a part in the movement. They are buying vintage - or old - clothes used by people long ago. Others wear a set of clothes more than once. 14Fee Gilfeather is a sustainability expert with the nonprofit group Oxfam. She said there is hope that more will be done. 15"The textile industry is getting close to working out how to do fiber-to-fiber recycling," she said. Such recycling takes clothes that are no longer wanted or needed and breaks them down into raw materials to make new clothing. 16She said the industry needs to move faster, because carbon emissions from the textile manufacturers are predicted to increase 60 percent by 2050. 17Some fast-fashion industry leaders, including Zara and H&M stores, have launched clothing take-back plans aimed at recycling old clothes. But for now, recycling and a zero-waste goal is mostly a small part of the worldwide industry. 18I'm Anne Ball. 19Lizzie Knight wrote this story for the Associated Press. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. 20What do you think of this story? Write to us in the comments section below. 21________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23recycle - v. to make something new from (something that has been used before) 24line - n. a seasonal collection of clothes for sale 25sustainable - adj. able to be used without being completely used up or destroyed 26latex - n. a white fluid produced by certain plants that is used for making rubber 27fiber - n. material (such as cloth) that is made from thin threads 28fabric - n. woven or knitted material 29alpaca - n. wool of the alpaca or a cloth made of it 30carbon footprint - n. the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds released due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person or group 313D printer - n. a device that allows people to make complex objects on their own 32textile - n. made of cloth 33emission - n. something sent out or given off