As a mixed media artist who’s work is predominantly textile based, I am very aware of the escalating and disastrous impact that the textile industry is having on the environment. As the textile and clothing industry continues to grow the damage environmentally now places it has the second largest pollutant of the world.
I am truly concerned how each of us is contributing to this terrible situation. For a number of years I have consciously chosen to use recycled materials and fabrics where possible minimising my own impact and contribution to the existing environmental pollution. An action that l see many fellow artists increasingly doing themselves. Two of these artists are Zwia Lipkin and Renae Barnard.
Zwia Lipkin is a textile artist who gains her inspiration from the world around her, particularly the relationship between different colours and textures. She predominantly uses salvaged decor textiles and fabrics.
Artist Renae Barnard is a mixed media artist who gains her inspiration from the exploration of the network and interactions between environment, perception and well being. Much of her artwork consists of using found materials and waste from the furniture industry.
The message of reclaiming, recycling and reusing needs to keep travelling and be heard. For individual that takes heed and responds in the positive it is another strike at the pollution bubble wrapped round our world.
Below is a resource of online sites that give further information on the environmental pollution caused by textile and clothing waste and ways that we collectively and individually can take positive actions within our own creative practices and personal lives to reduce the environmental pollution.
- British Fashion Council (2020) White Paper Available at: https://www.britishfashioncouncil.co.uk (Accessed: 23rd of December 2020)
- Ingram H (2020) Recycling in Textile Art Available at: https://www.textileartist.org/recycling-in-textile-art/ (Accessed 22nd December 2020)
- McFall-Johnson M (2020) Fashion’s Environmental Impact Available at: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/11/fashion-industry-carbon-unsustainable-environment-pollution (Accessed: 22nd December 2020)
- Sustain your Style (2020) Sustain your Style Available at: https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environment-impacts (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Blanchard T (2018) Fashion Revolution Week: seven ways to get involved Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2018/apr/24/fashion-revolution-week-seven-ways-to-get-involved (Accessed 23rd December 2020)
- Davis N (2020) Fast Fashion speeding toward environment disaster, report warns Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/apr/07/fast-fashion-speeding-toward-environment-disaster-report-warns (Accessed 23rd December 2020)
- Who made my clothes? (2020) Who made my clothes? Available at: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/whomademyclothes/?utm_source=ig_embed (Accessed: 22nd December 2020)
Image Reference:
- Sustain your Style (2020) Sustain your Style Available at: https//www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environment-impacts (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Sustain your Style (2020) Sustain your Style Available at: https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmnet-impacts (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Ingram H (2020) Kwai Napkin Textile Artist Available at: https://www.textileartist.org/recycling-in-textile-art/ (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Barnard R (2018) Mindful and Meaningful: Exploring the synergetic relationship of textile waste and fine art practice Available at: https://www.renaebarnard.com/story/tag/fiber+artist (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Sustain your Style (2020) Sustain your Style Available at: https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environment-impacts (Accessed: 23rd December 2020)
- Lipkin Z (2020) Exploring textiles and sustainability – Hands Available at: https://www.anytexture.com (Accessed: 22nd December 2020)
