Fashion note

• Ways of being an ethical consumer when purchasing textile items & clothes


  1. Buy less items

  2. Buy durable (higher quality) garments

  3. Buy second hand clothes & textile items

  4. Avoid clothes that would be worn once

  5. Choose products made from organic fibres

  6. Choose products made from recycled materials

  7. Avoid dry-clean only garments

  8. Buy items that are non-exploitation
• Outline ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Buy less items ;

  • Reduce consumptions.
  • Create a shopping list.
  • Give yourself a budget.
  • This can help save money and the planet. Instead of impulsively buying something, purchase only what’s needed. This may only increase the pleasure of finding just the right item.
  • Change perspective and think of in-disposable.
• Aspects related to fast fashion

  Current trends ; thousands of clothes are produced rapidly to meet demands.

  Inexpensive ; use low quality items make fast fashion cheap.

  Disposable ; trends change rapidly, eventually thrown away.

  Short development time ; reduce price equals more purchase.
• Define ethical fashion


  Neither harmful nor exploitive of people.

  Neither harmful nor exploitive to animals.

  Neither harmful nor exploitive to the environment.

  Ethical fashion is about designing and manufacturing clothes in a way that cares for people and communities while minimizing the impact on the environment.
• Outline ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Choose products made from recycled materials;


  Try to choose clothes which are made from recycled materials such as recycled cotton or recycled plastic bottles.
• Outline ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Avoid buying dry-clean only garments ;

  Dry-cleaning is considered ‘dry’ because cleaning avoids water but dips clothes into toxic chemicals instead. These are severely hazardous to the environment and to the human health.
• Outline ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Buy durable (higher quality) garments ;

  Does it feel good to touch?

  Does it pass the tug test?

  Is it a good blend?

  Can I maintain it?

  Buy clothes that are comfortable, and have soft touch. Make sure that stitches are even, and stitched well. One fibre is usually stronger than the other and weaker fibre break in the garment. Fine fibres like silk and pure wool needs to be given special attention to maintain.
• Ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Buy second hand clothes and textile items ;

  In our globalized world dominated by fast fashion giants, buying vintage and second hand clothes provides a sustainable and cheaper alternative method to buy textile items.
• Ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Hire clothes that would be worn once ;

  Renting clothes allows you to save money on items that will be used only for a single special occasion.
• Ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Choose products made from organic fibre ;

  Organic textiles are grown in controlled settings with no pesticides, herbicides, and others. Only natural fetilizers are used and monitored. Fertilizers that are used include compost, manure, crop rotation, and naturally derived mineral along with plant fertilizer.
• Ways of being an ethical consumer when using textile items and clothing.

  Buy items that declare non-exploitation of workers ;

  Buy items with the following labels;

  fairtrade ; this ensures that farmers and workers are offered good work conditions, also ensures that products are valued with good prices.

  B.Corp ; ensures treatment of workers, employee benefits, transparency of the supply chain, community impact, and more.
• Aspects of slow fashion

  Deliberate choice to buy better quality items less often ;

  -Good quality garments will last longer and reduce landfills.

  -Saves money over the long run, being more sustainable.

  -Buying less textile items also means less waste generated.
• Aspects related to slow fashion.

  Environmentally and ethically-conscious choice ;

  -Buying timeless clothes enables you to wear garments longer.

  -Choose eco-friendly textile products to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide And carbon footprint.

  -upcycling or taking old and unwanted textile items to charity shops.
• Aspects related to slow fashion.

  Transparency about clothes origin and production methods ;

  Looking at eco certification labels will help you understand the impact of specific textile products in the environment. Buying products these labels limit the production of unethical textile products.
• Different purposes of cushions.

  functional ; to use (eg. On a chair, or to lay your head on.)

  decorative ; (eg. to show more colors, and more life into the living room.)
• Describe how to embellish a plain cushion cover.

  Applique;

  1.Apply fusible interfacing on the design.

  2.Place the interfaced design on the main fabric.

  3.Zigzag around the design or hand stitch around using the blanket stitch.
• Describe how to embellish a plain cushion cover.

  Embroidery ; Chain stitch.

  1.Make a knot on the longer side of the embroidery thread.

  2. Start working from the right side of the fabric towards the left.

  3. Insert the needle from the underside of the fabric, bringing the thread to the top.

  4. Take a stitch keeping the needle on top.

  5. To make the next stitch insert the needle through previous chain.
• Describe how to embellish on a plain cushion cover.

  Sequins ;

  1.insert the needle from the underside of the fabric.

  2. Thread the sequins through the needle and secure it by stitching over the edge of the sequins catching the fabric.

  3. Repeat for the rest.
• Attaching a fastener to a cushion cover

  1. Create a hem by folding 5cm over 5cm for both sides

  2. Measure and mark the exact position of the button and buttonholes so that they are equidistant from each other

  3. Use the buttonhole foot to stitch the buttonholes with the sewing machine

  4. Open the buttonhole with a seam ripper

  5. Fold the cushion over the right sides facing

  6. There should be a 5cm overlap

  7. Pin, tack and machine stitch the 2cm dean allowance from top to bottom on both sides

  8. Neaten with zigzag stitch/ overlock and cut off extra excess fabric

  9. Turn the cushion inside out and press

  10. Stitch the buttons on the other side of the hem and press
• Button and buttonholes

  Fasteners used to attach cushion cover
• How to create a frill for a cushion cover

  1. Fold and sew the hems on the back parts of the cushion.
  2. Attach piping/frill on the front cuchion cover piece.
  3. Place the back part of the cushion cover on top of the front piece, right sides facing.
  4. Pin and tack all sides of the cushion cover. Machine stitch and neaten with zigzag stitch.
  5. Turn inside out and insert cushion.
• Method of creating a piped edge (making the piping)

  1. Place the cord / rope inside the wrong side of the crossway strip to enclose it with pins.
  2. Machine stitch as close to the cord as possible using the zipper foot.
  3. The lip created needs to be stitched inside the seam of the cushion so that the piping is visible on the outside.
• Method of creating a piped edge.

  1. Place the right side facing you.
  2. Align the lip of the piping to the edge of the cushion and pin all around
  3. At the corner, move the piping inwards and snip off The lip to let it turn easily.
  4. To join the piping, cut off the excess and place the fabric encasing the piping right sides together. Pin, tack and machine stitch at the join.
• Different detergents

  Synthetic detergent, cool water detergent, soap powder, and light duty/ soft detergent.
• Aspects of detergents

  Synthetic detergent ; used for general washing by hand or machine.

  cool water detergent ; used in low temperature cycles.
• Describe the process of hand washing a soft furnishing item.

  Read care label ; fill the basin with the right temperature of water ; add the right detergent ; immerse the item in the water and agitate ; rinse out the detergent ; replace the water and add fabric conditioner ; rinse the item and squeeze out the water ; hang on a clothes drying rack.