11.05.2020

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN COMPANIES IN BANGLADESH

DAY I
DIPDII Textiles www.dipdiitextiles.org
SICA www.sica-up.com
ARANYA + BANGLADESH CRAFT SOCIETY
www.aranya.com.bd www.bengalcraftsociety.org

Dipdii Textiles was initiated by Anna Heringer, Hon. Prof. UNESCO Chair for Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures and Sustainable Development and Veronika Lena Lang as master tailor. It is realized in cooperation with the Bangladeshi non-government organization Dipshikha for rural development.
Dipdii Textiles is an organization that creates local job opportunities in the textile traditions sector in rural areas in the north of Bangladesh. The main focus of this project is the Nakshi Kantha, one of the most important traditional textiles in Bangladesh.

Sica‘s Simone Simonato’s work is dedicated to the theme of textile waste. Pre and post consumer waste, faulty fabrics or vintage textiles are being woven anew, resulting in new unique pieces.

Nawshin Khair ist the Creative & Managing Director of Aranya.
Aranya is a philosophy, rooted in natural aesthetics and responsible living. What started as a fair trade movement to revive natural colours grew into a thriving ecosystem of over 3,000 artisans across Bangladesh. To find alternative sources of income and reduce the dependence of local communities on forests in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the Bengal Craft Society and Creative Conservation Alliance are working together with the ethnic people of Bangladesh to form a community-based organisation (CBO) to create and market their traditional crafts. As a member of the WFTO, Aranya is an established fair trade organisation and one of the first members of the World Crafts Council in Bangladesh. Aranya works with natural dyes such as indigo. At the same time, the company develops and obtains traditional, original craftsmanship and design from the whole country and establishes it in a modern context.

12.05.2020

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES

SESSION II Fashion Revolution, Materials & Certificates
led by Ariane Piper, Fashion Revolution Germany

As part of a group work the participants developed an overview of the level of transparency of companies that describe themselves as sustainable, fair and/or organic. The following questions served as a guide:

– Who assigned the label?
– What is its focus?
– Where in the supply chain is it located?
– What are the standards?
– How credible are the criteria?

These questions were used to assess whether companies such as the “Better Cotton Initiative” or “Cotton Made in Africa” work transparently and ethically or whether they are in fact practicing some form of greenwashing.

13.05.2020

SUSTAINABLE DESIGN STRATEGIES

SESSION III – Circularity + Future Materials
led by Arianna Nicoletti

150 million garments are produced annually. In order to be able to protect the environment and mankind from the fashion industry’s polluting effects, the development of innovative sustainable alternatives to wasteful materials takes precedence. This next phase presents sustainable material developments.
– Orange fibre, from orange peel
– Tencel
– Bolt Threads
– Colorfix, a bacterial dye
– Spider silk
– Mylo, Mycelium Leather