Julia Chase
@juliachase.bsky.social
Costume Nerd, Sewist she/they studying costume sustainability.
I skipped straight to garment sewing when I was 7, and guess what I'm still doing. I've made so many mistakes along the way, and I still make mistakes. In sewing, most errors are fixable and they're all worth learning from!
March 3, 2024 at 3:17 AM
I skipped straight to garment sewing when I was 7, and guess what I'm still doing. I've made so many mistakes along the way, and I still make mistakes. In sewing, most errors are fixable and they're all worth learning from!
I'm also a graduate student that chose the university I'm attending because they explicitly claim to value sustainabilty, but unfortunately that claim is not in line with the experience I've had.
February 29, 2024 at 8:42 PM
I'm also a graduate student that chose the university I'm attending because they explicitly claim to value sustainabilty, but unfortunately that claim is not in line with the experience I've had.
It isn't required, but we're working on creating guidance. I'm a co-chair of the sustainability committee of the Costume Designer's Guild (IATSE 892 *I do not represent the Guild) and many of the other IATSE locals have similar committees. Sustainability research/resources are still in early stages.
February 29, 2024 at 8:36 PM
It isn't required, but we're working on creating guidance. I'm a co-chair of the sustainability committee of the Costume Designer's Guild (IATSE 892 *I do not represent the Guild) and many of the other IATSE locals have similar committees. Sustainability research/resources are still in early stages.
Even then, if in theory the ROICA elastane holds it's stretch for 2 years in your closet/use vs say 5 years for standard, is the decreased life of the garment better or worse to the impact of standard elastane? Perhaps it will last as long or longer than standard, I don't know yet.
February 29, 2024 at 7:28 PM
Even then, if in theory the ROICA elastane holds it's stretch for 2 years in your closet/use vs say 5 years for standard, is the decreased life of the garment better or worse to the impact of standard elastane? Perhaps it will last as long or longer than standard, I don't know yet.
The elastane I've alluded to (ROICA V550) is projected to biodegrade fully in normal environmental conditions in 5 years. However, it hasn't existed for 5 years yet, and 3rd party testing is still in process. Until the test results are in, I don't consider it an alternative to standard elastane.
February 29, 2024 at 7:17 PM
The elastane I've alluded to (ROICA V550) is projected to biodegrade fully in normal environmental conditions in 5 years. However, it hasn't existed for 5 years yet, and 3rd party testing is still in process. Until the test results are in, I don't consider it an alternative to standard elastane.
I've seen a few different definitions but they most commonly require breakdown into 'natural' components that are not harmful to organisms, often with the help of bacteria, and outside of controlled conditions. When plastics degrade into smaller pieces they are categorized as secondary microplastics
February 29, 2024 at 7:08 PM
I've seen a few different definitions but they most commonly require breakdown into 'natural' components that are not harmful to organisms, often with the help of bacteria, and outside of controlled conditions. When plastics degrade into smaller pieces they are categorized as secondary microplastics
I guess I'm just wondering what happened to small trucks. My dad needs to haul stuff sometimes, but not that much stuff and not that often. He repairs his truck, but when it finally puts out for good he won't be able to replace it with something similar.
February 29, 2024 at 5:53 PM
I guess I'm just wondering what happened to small trucks. My dad needs to haul stuff sometimes, but not that much stuff and not that often. He repairs his truck, but when it finally puts out for good he won't be able to replace it with something similar.
Is it lack of demand or lack of availability? Every time this topic comes up in my sphere we lament the lack of small cars and trucks on offer.
A bit of a chicken or the egg, I guess.
A bit of a chicken or the egg, I guess.
February 29, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Is it lack of demand or lack of availability? Every time this topic comes up in my sphere we lament the lack of small cars and trucks on offer.
A bit of a chicken or the egg, I guess.
A bit of a chicken or the egg, I guess.
About 30% of garments produced are destroyed (incinerated/landfilled) before they even hit the store. A little stretch in your pants isn't the problem.
February 29, 2024 at 4:30 PM
About 30% of garments produced are destroyed (incinerated/landfilled) before they even hit the store. A little stretch in your pants isn't the problem.
If that means including a percentage of elastine, have at it.
If a little stretch helps you wear a garment more often and for longer it is much better than having a garment you hate and will get rid of before the end of its life.
If a little stretch helps you wear a garment more often and for longer it is much better than having a garment you hate and will get rid of before the end of its life.
February 29, 2024 at 4:29 PM
If that means including a percentage of elastine, have at it.
If a little stretch helps you wear a garment more often and for longer it is much better than having a garment you hate and will get rid of before the end of its life.
If a little stretch helps you wear a garment more often and for longer it is much better than having a garment you hate and will get rid of before the end of its life.
Spider silk fiber isn't stretchy.
I would love an alternative to elastine. There are some companies that are trying, but they have not yet proven to be biodegradable. Maybe they will be.
Ultimately, you should buy clothing that works for you.
I would love an alternative to elastine. There are some companies that are trying, but they have not yet proven to be biodegradable. Maybe they will be.
Ultimately, you should buy clothing that works for you.
February 29, 2024 at 4:28 PM
Spider silk fiber isn't stretchy.
I would love an alternative to elastine. There are some companies that are trying, but they have not yet proven to be biodegradable. Maybe they will be.
Ultimately, you should buy clothing that works for you.
I would love an alternative to elastine. There are some companies that are trying, but they have not yet proven to be biodegradable. Maybe they will be.
Ultimately, you should buy clothing that works for you.
I'd argue that spider silk is a natural fiber, though I don't know why we'd take the time and effort to produce spider silk when we could use the natural fibers that we already farm at scale and focus on extending the life of those fibers through textile recycling.
February 29, 2024 at 3:52 PM
I'd argue that spider silk is a natural fiber, though I don't know why we'd take the time and effort to produce spider silk when we could use the natural fibers that we already farm at scale and focus on extending the life of those fibers through textile recycling.
And one last thing. Not to make anyone feel guilty, but the only reason any clothes are "affordable" is because the true cost is paid by exploited workers all along the chain from fiber to clothing. This isn't our fault, but it is the reality.
February 29, 2024 at 3:33 PM
And one last thing. Not to make anyone feel guilty, but the only reason any clothes are "affordable" is because the true cost is paid by exploited workers all along the chain from fiber to clothing. This isn't our fault, but it is the reality.
You aren't responsible for this mess, the brands/producers are. They exploit workers to create way more clothing/textiles than we need so they can make money at the cost of the planet.
Microplastics are a huge problem, but only one of many.
Microplastics are a huge problem, but only one of many.
February 29, 2024 at 3:22 PM
You aren't responsible for this mess, the brands/producers are. They exploit workers to create way more clothing/textiles than we need so they can make money at the cost of the planet.
Microplastics are a huge problem, but only one of many.
Microplastics are a huge problem, but only one of many.
Making them able to do that also makes them resistant to breaking down in the environment.
We need to stop over-producing and over-consuming and rebuild fiber to fiber textile recycling until it is the norm.
We need to stop over-producing and over-consuming and rebuild fiber to fiber textile recycling until it is the norm.
February 29, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Making them able to do that also makes them resistant to breaking down in the environment.
We need to stop over-producing and over-consuming and rebuild fiber to fiber textile recycling until it is the norm.
We need to stop over-producing and over-consuming and rebuild fiber to fiber textile recycling until it is the norm.
Fellow PNW resident here! Elastine is a whole other can of worms!
Synthetics aren't going to get better. It's a common misconception that plastics derived from biological material biodegrade, but they don't. Synthetic fibers have to last through the wash and through wear.
Synthetics aren't going to get better. It's a common misconception that plastics derived from biological material biodegrade, but they don't. Synthetic fibers have to last through the wash and through wear.
February 29, 2024 at 3:18 PM
Fellow PNW resident here! Elastine is a whole other can of worms!
Synthetics aren't going to get better. It's a common misconception that plastics derived from biological material biodegrade, but they don't. Synthetic fibers have to last through the wash and through wear.
Synthetics aren't going to get better. It's a common misconception that plastics derived from biological material biodegrade, but they don't. Synthetic fibers have to last through the wash and through wear.
To add to this, because most people think washing is the only way microplastics are produced from synthetic textiles; normal wear is a larger cause of microplastics than washing.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
Wearing clothes could release more microfibers to the environment than washing them
In a first-of-its-kind study, scientists compared four different items of polyester clothing and how many fibers were released when they were being worn and washed.
www.sciencedaily.com
February 29, 2024 at 1:21 PM
To add to this, because most people think washing is the only way microplastics are produced from synthetic textiles; normal wear is a larger cause of microplastics than washing.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/202...
I've got bad news about chewing gum.
February 29, 2024 at 1:06 PM
I've got bad news about chewing gum.
No, you were right. Synthetic textiles are by far the highest contributor to environmental microplastics. You ARE breathing them in all the time. They're in the water and food. They're in Antartic ice. They're in our blood and brains and placenta. We don't know what they do to us yet.
February 29, 2024 at 1:03 PM
No, you were right. Synthetic textiles are by far the highest contributor to environmental microplastics. You ARE breathing them in all the time. They're in the water and food. They're in Antartic ice. They're in our blood and brains and placenta. We don't know what they do to us yet.
The majority of environmental microplastics are from synthetic textiles. Car tires are the second highest source.
February 29, 2024 at 4:30 AM
The majority of environmental microplastics are from synthetic textiles. Car tires are the second highest source.