fashion – StepChange Innovations Blog

3D printing of textiles – part 1. Haute Couture and technical challenges

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:09/05/2014
Post category:Textile
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3D printing is seen as potential technology breakthrough that may radically change manufacturing processes in many industries, put whole business models at question and create new ones. However, in textile manufacturing 3D printing is still at a tiny niche and exploratory stage. We show examples of the already available and known products and trends. In future articles we will look closer at the emerging technology solutions in 3D printing of textiles. We will present the common 3D printing technologies and discuss how to overcome some of the obstacles for 3D printing of textiles. We will try to answer the questions: Can 3D printing really play a serious role in textile manufacturing?

The Detox Catwalk – Greenpeace launches a new type of fashion brand catwalk

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:08/11/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
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Greenpeace launched the Detox Catwalk, an interactive online platform assessing the progress made by major clothing companies towards a toxic-free future. ZDHC founders adidas, Nike and LiNing only rated as greenwashers.

Greenpeace zero discharge campaign

Zero discharge programme in textile industry moving to version 2

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:13/03/2013
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:1 Comment

The joint roadmap of the zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) programme in the textile industry is moving to version 2. An environmental management system and work streams are suggested. Greenpeace criticized some of the proposed changes to the roadmap.

The textile supply chain and jeans production in China

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:26/11/2012
Post category:Textile
Post comments:3 Comments

The video (in German language) shows the manufacturing of jeans made for German discounter kik as well as for big brands, in Guangdong province of China.

More challenges in the Greenpeace detox campaign

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:23/11/2012
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:1 Comment

The Greenpeace detox campaign gets to a higher gear. In this article we outline some technical challenges of particular concern related to possibly critical contaminants in reactive dyes, disperse dyes and in indigo.

Slow progress in the Greenpeace detox campaign

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:06/11/2012
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:3 Comments

Meanwhile a series of famous big brands have joined the zero discharge of hazardous chemicals (ZDHC) programme, a response to the detox campaign initiated by Greenpeace in 2011. However, the speed of progress has been criticised by Greenpeace. We put some lights on the reasons why.

Dirty Laundry Greenpeace campaign

Post author:Christian Schumacher
Post published:27/03/2012
Post category:Ecology Textile
Post comments:1 Comment

Greenpeace started a campaign to stop the release of hazardous chemicals used in textile manufacturing, associated with the suppliers of major international clothing brands.