Design Research Development- 22nd November 2016

Sustainability

I have done more further research into the types of fabrics that I want to use for my collection. So far I want to use plant based fabrics such as linen and cotton. For this research I have looked at 'Fabric For Fashion The Complete Guide Natural and Man-made Fibres by Clive Hallett and Amanda Johnston. This book explores different fabrics such as animal fibres, plant fibres and man-made fibres. I have looked into the properties of linen which are;

• Tough (12 times stronger than cotton).
• Can be silky in texture
• Embodies a springy freshness
• Classic
• Relaxed
• Crisp

I also looked into the properties and characteristics of cotton, and the different types of cotton there are. 

• Luxury cotton: tends to be more desirable because it can withstand additional combining processes that in turn will make it smoother and finer to the touch.
• Organic cotton: "organic agricultural methods rely upon crop rotation and the use of natural enemies, such as ladybirds, to suppress harmful insects, rather than the use of agrochemicals, artificial fertilisers and other non-toxic persistent chemicals."

Other Plant Fibres

• Banana Fibre: strong and versatile, can resemble linen, bamboo and even silk. Banana fibre is produced in Asian countries such as Japan and Nepal. For commercial production, there are two different ways; enzyme retting and chemical processing. Enzyme retting can be quite a slow process but it isn't harmful towards the environment, and chemical processing is fast and causes pollution. 
• Bamboo Fibre: has characteristics that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and re-enrich land. Also can be used for sportswear because of its anti-static characteristics. 
• Hemp Fibre: Mainly used for biodegradable plastics and biofuels. The fibres are strong and durable, resist mould have good absorbing and offer protection against ultraviolet light. A wedding dress has been made by Sanyukta Shrestha out of hemp. The London College of Fashion combines a sustainable approach with hand crafted luxury.