Climate Reality
By: Ashley Mosley and Baylen edwards-miller
FWBRUARY, 2018
Sustainability in Fashion
When pursuing a future in fashion sustainability, it is imperative to be an Earth systems thinker. This is so important because when thinking of solutions, we should keep in mind that a change to one sphere will end in a change in all. The four spheres: lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere are all impacted by our decisions in our daily lives as well as in fashion. For example, the water we use to chemically dye clothing gets polluted and ends up back in the ocean which is known as the hydrosphere. From there, the water washes up on land and is absorbed into the lithosphere. The left-over water that was not absorbed gets evaporated into the atmosphere spreading those chemicals to the third sphere in the system. Lastly, we as humans, breathe in this contaminated air disrupting the biosphere. However, the animals in the ocean and animals that eat from the land filled with chemicals are also affected. The same way the spheres are impacted by fashion they are impacted in climate change. It causes a chain reaction to take place. When learning about climate change this past week we learned that the way this happens is when greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide are released into the air, the atmosphere thickens. Thus, leading to energy being trapped which warms the Earth. This is where all the recent extreme weather conditions are stemming from. Another explanation of this is 93% of extra heat trapped by manmade global warming pollution goes into the ocean as mentioned before. Ultimately, this has caused detrimental storms like Hurricane Maria. Once these begin to take place, climate change strengthens the storms severity. This led to 2017 breaking the record of most losses due to weather in a year. This just goes to show that if we don’t make major changes soon we can ruin our Earth. As a matter of fact, it is being said that we could be the only species to cause our own extinction. Let’s not let it get that far by working together to save our shared home, Earth.
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| VISUAL REPRESENTATION DEPICTING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THAT FASHION INDUSTRY WATER CONSUMPTION AND DYEING HAS ON THE EARTHS SPHERES AND HOW WE CAN ALTER THESE PRACTICES TO BE MORE SUSTAINABLE FOR THE FUTURE. |
You guys have created a really effective visual representation to accompany your written post. The play on words ‘dye’ and ‘die’ and the corresponding colors of green and red used with them sends a powerful message and it is hard to ignore it as it sits right in the middle of the visual. I like the way you explained each sphere through a real example as it makes it easy for a reader who doesn’t know much about each sphere to understand what they are and how they all impact each other, and related to the fashion industry specifically.
ReplyDeleteHi Baylen and Ashley! I love the sense of urgency that you were able to convey about fashion’s harmful role in global warming and climate change! You really hit the mark with identifying the direct impact of using harmful chemicals that is depleting our spheres.. I think this knowledge alone is something very important that the general public does not know. Your ability to connect dyeing garments to the change in our environment within your graphic is also really powerful. I am sure that most consumers are aware of the harm that fashion creates for the environment, however they prObably are not aware of how it can affect their own health and well-being/safety.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all- I am so excited by your poster headline that reads: TOO MUCH DYE WILL MAKE THE EARTH DIE.... I have never heard it put like this! What a great use of synonyms and urgency in your message. Your infographic tells your story oh so well! Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteAnd you are so right, Ashley and Baylen, that "that a change to one sphere will end in a change in all."Again, well said- I admire the way the two of you go through an explanation of the spheres to how dye enters/impacts one sphere and then goes through and negatively impacts the other three... one by one... and then incorporate Malia's informative presentation, and include Hurricane Maria, extrems temps and losses! Well done! I'm hooked!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog post! You guys gave great detail about how one harmful thing the fashion industry does can cause harm for all the four spheres. The visual you gave is very appealing with the pictures and words presented, and sends a strong message. Great post!!!