The last Friday of the month means it’s time once again for one of my favorite days. A day for promoting positive news via We Are the World Blogfest. It delights me to participate as an agent of pronoia along with dozens of other ambassadors highlighting feel-good news stories for us all to celebrate.
Cohosting the project this month are: Shilpa Garg, Simon Falk, Lynn Hallbrooks, Eric Lahti, Damyanti Biswas and Guilie Castillo. Do check out their posts, along with everyone else participating, and feel free to join us here.
Certainly part of the fun of this challenge for me is choosing monthly a story that reflects something I’m particularly interested in. Despite the apparent bias of our “mainstream” media, I don’t actually think there IS a lack of good and important and inspiring news to share – the world is filled with kind, compassionate, caring, innovative people, most often carrying on in quiet ways making significant differences that don’t get heralded. I love this monthly gathering of reports that allows us to all to celebrate and acknowledge what we find bright and beautiful in our world.
While no one by any stretch of imagination would consider me a fashionista, I do actually have a great interest in all the ways each of us have available to creatively express ourselves, and that absolutely includes how we adorn ourselves.
But there’s actually a lot to think about with regard to clothing. The fashion industry, and our support of it, has a long way to go to clean up its environmental impact, as well as the appalling human rights violations that incessant demand for cheap labor under toxic conditions demands; along with the ever-present idea that it’s somehow important to dress for ever-changing manufactured trends, rather than actually for what delights one’s heart.
Over the years I’ve become increasingly interested in natural fibers and nature dyes. I was thrilled to recently discover the innovative work of Natsai Audrey Chieza, a designer who has pioneered a system of dyeing and printing textiles using pigment producing bacteria.
You can read about her work here, or even better, watch her brief TED talk here.
Fascinating isn’t it? Did you realize how tied into fossil fuels our clothing is, and how polluting textile dyeing is? Isn’t it exciting to know there are alternatives – that we really can work in collaboration and co-creation with nature in ways that are sustainable and supportive? Kudos to those innovative wayshowers like Chieza! I hope some day I’ll find myself wearing an ethically sourced, environmentally-friendly, beautiful biotech garment patterned and colored thanks to bacteria.
I absolutely believe there are hints about who you are in what you choose to wear. What do you want to express with your adornment? Do tell – you know I love to hear.
What a novel and a fascinating idea!!
I read her interview just now and loved it where she says that she isnt a biologist by training, but that has empowered her to explore and not set any boundaries and limitations. How wonderful is that! Thanks for sharing this informative and insightful story, Deborah!
I loved that about her as well Shilpa. It delights my heart so when people find something they’re passionate about and then just find ways to explore and create and move forward. That to me is simply the very best way to be in the world.
Truly fascinating. I like seeing biology meet fashion. I wonder if any of this young woman’s ideas will take off in a big way. Good choice for your #WATWB contribution.
I hope do Ally. I don’t think we can do enough to encourage innovative thinking and action.
In my mind, I’m entitling this project “science meets the art – the poetry of dressing in beautiful bacteria.” Hmm, that might not be as catchy as one might hope. 🙂
That is so cool. I’ll go over and listen to the Tedtalk now.
Thanks for visiting my blog today!
It IS cool, isn’t it Mary?! And thank you for stopping by. It’s such a delight to soak in all the #WATWB goodness every month.
What a wonderful idea. To my shame I hadn’t thought about this aspect of fashion.
Hi Deborah – I do want to come back and listen to Natsai’s TED talk anon … definitely will do – as I find this so interesting … I was watching an article on Kenyan’s getting our 2nd hand clothing – which they now don’t want …as it is dumped, and as a lot is polyester it doesn’t decompose.
You’re so right to say “the world is filled with kind, compassionate, caring, innovative people, most often carrying on in quiet ways making significant differences that don’t get heralded”.
Thanks for sharing these thoughts with us … and I love it’s tied in with your own passion – cheers Hilary
The TED talk was so interesting … cheers Hilary
Glad you enjoyed the talk Hilary. I recently read about the issue with donated clothing as well. The perspective I read was not only that it was an issue for the recipients, but that there is deliberate complicity in foisting what would be an issue for our landfills to other countries. Heart-breaking.
Cool idea. I’ve known for a while about the slave labor level sweatshops that clothes are made in, but I wasn’t aware of the chemicals required to make the dyes.
It’s pretty mind-boggling. I hope some day soon we can celebrate a real shift in this area.
I did not realize the textile dying connection to fossil fuels, but very glad there are alternatives. The TED talk was interesting, and I enjoyed her elegant voice. As an animal lover, I’m particularly intrigued by mushroom leather. You are absolutely right that there’s plenty of good, important and inspiring news to share. Thanks for sharing some!
I’ve seen mushroom leather JoAnna, and it’s pretty incredible. Mushrooms are altogether fascinating.
Thanks Deborah, great post! We seldom realise the conditions in which are garments are made – eg how much water is required to colour dye a piece of cloth, or sweat shop labour –
Biology and technology will I hope continue to make these kind of advances where it’s a win-win. Some of our African cloths are wonderfully bright and vibrant in their patternings and colour; I suspect natural dyes/pigments are used. I’ll check this out.
I suppose it’s a function of living in such overtly capitalist and consumerist societies that knowing the actual cost of things is highly discouraged, but still I’m always a bit surprised it’s not something pursued more widely.
But yes to win-win solutions. So much is possible!
I tend to wear clothes until they can’t be worn any longer. My favorite color is purple so this bio-fashion would look lovely on me. 🙂 Perhaps I will live long enough to see the trending in clothing stores everywhere. Thanks for sharing this educational story and for being a part of #WATWB
I hope one day to join you in wearing this bio-fashion Lynn. And thanks for co-hosting WATWB this month – it’s always such a delight to discover what good news we found worth celebrating.