Notes by Kat Neeser
1. If we are to address climate change and peak oil, we cannot keep importing cheap clothing and throwing almost new clothing away.
2. We need to aim to increase clothing production in the UK, and make locally produced clothing and textiles affordable to all.
3. We must encourage people to recycle clothing, for example swapping nearly new clothing with friends, family and neighbours. See ryanishungry.com for example of how cooperatives could be set up to put systems in place.
4. If we don’t swap clothing, what can be done with our old clothes? They can be altered/improved/screen printed/re-styled. Clothes could be produced from old sheets/curtains/remnants. Classes would be needed to help people learn how to sew and style clothing.
5. New fabrics could be produced from recycled knitted and woven garments. We would need to explore how to make better use of sustainable materials such as hemp/nettles/other locally produced natural products..
6. We would need to seek sponsorship to obtain sewing machines/printing presses, and other equipment. The Cowley Club could perhaps offer space?
7. There is enormous scope for the sharing and exchanging of skills, eg. LETS schemes. http://www.letslinkuk.net/
8. The web can be used to exchange skills/experience/willingness to help, but we need to remember that there are still many who do not have access..
9. No scheme can be successful unless we maintain a balance, considering the needs of all sections of the population, eg. The poor, elderly and disabled, those with young children, low paid – may not be able to participate in schemes which involve time spent sewing and knitting/travelling to production centres, etc.
10. We also need to consider the impact of our actions on developing countries – many Asian countries depend upon income from cheap clothing production. Whatever we do will impact on every other economy.
11. Participants in this group were:
PLEASE NOTE THAT EMAIL ADDRESSES HAVE "AT" INSTEAD OF @ DUE TO WEB SPIDERS..OR SOMETHING!
Georgia Corrie – singsister2003 "at" yahoo.com
Kat Neeser – katneeser "at" hotmail.com
Amelia Mills – ameliamills "at" onetel.com
Beth Tilston – wine_and_corduroy "at" hotmail.com
Maureen Winder – M.E.Winder "at" sussex.ac.uk
Notes of meeting on July 25th for Textiles and Clothing
