clothing is one of the most underutilized tools in the human tool
underutilized tools in the human tool
underutilized tools in the human tool box and just like any other tool it can
box and just like any other tool it can
box and just like any other tool it can be used to enact change I’m an
be used to enact change I’m an
be used to enact change I’m an anthropologist by trade a very proud one
anthropologist by trade a very proud one
anthropologist by trade a very proud one and anthropologists study humans and we
and anthropologists study humans and we
and anthropologists study humans and we study how humans have evolved from past
study how humans have evolved from past
study how humans have evolved from past apprentice present and even the future
apprentice present and even the future
apprentice present and even the future as well and we pay attention to what has
as well and we pay attention to what has
as well and we pay attention to what has impacted humans and the way that they
impacted humans and the way that they
impacted humans and the way that they live and how humans have impacted
live and how humans have impacted
live and how humans have impacted anything else
anything else
anything else and part of anthropology is also
and part of anthropology is also
and part of anthropology is also studying tools and that’s one of my
studying tools and that’s one of my
studying tools and that’s one of my favorite parts about anthropology’s you
favorite parts about anthropology’s you
favorite parts about anthropology’s you get a geek out about least tools our
get a geek out about least tools our
get a geek out about least tools our tool is a device used to carry out a
tool is a device used to carry out a
tool is a device used to carry out a particular function some of the oldest
particular function some of the oldest
particular function some of the oldest tools used by humans are something as
tools used by humans are something as
tools used by humans are something as simple as fire a stick or rock but for
simple as fire a stick or rock but for
simple as fire a stick or rock but for today I’m going to use an example of a
today I’m going to use an example of a
today I’m going to use an example of a hammer because that’s something very
hammer because that’s something very
hammer because that’s something very familiar to all of us and a hammer can
familiar to all of us and a hammer can
familiar to all of us and a hammer can be used to build something and also can
be used to build something and also can
be used to build something and also can be used to dismantle something the best
be used to dismantle something the best
be used to dismantle something the best tools are multifunctional now along with
tools are multifunctional now along with
tools are multifunctional now along with being an anthropologist and also a
being an anthropologist and also a
being an anthropologist and also a fashion designer in these two fields
fashion designer in these two fields
fashion designer in these two fields give me a unique lens to study clothing
give me a unique lens to study clothing
give me a unique lens to study clothing as a tool colon has been used for over a
as a tool colon has been used for over a
as a tool colon has been used for over a hundred and seventy thousand years you
hundred and seventy thousand years you
hundred and seventy thousand years you might have noticed that we still wear it
might have noticed that we still wear it
might have noticed that we still wear it and it is still very much needed in our
and it is still very much needed in our
and it is still very much needed in our world clothing is a tool that we use
world clothing is a tool that we use
world clothing is a tool that we use daily it is something so common to our
daily it is something so common to our
daily it is something so common to our way of living that we often don’t think
way of living that we often don’t think
way of living that we often don’t think about it as something that is important
about it as something that is important
about it as something that is important or something that is impactful to be
or something that is impactful to be
or something that is impactful to be honest
honest
honest clothing is under considered so consider
clothing is under considered so consider
clothing is under considered so consider this clothing is the second biggest
this clothing is the second biggest
this clothing is the second biggest polluting industry in the world second
polluting industry in the world second
polluting industry in the world second only to agriculture because of this
only to agriculture because of this
only to agriculture because of this twenty percent of the global industrial
twenty percent of the global industrial
twenty percent of the global industrial water pollution comes from textiles now
water pollution comes from textiles now
water pollution comes from textiles now in terms of some social impacts over 70
in terms of some social impacts over 70
in terms of some social impacts over 70 million people in our world are employed
million people in our world are employed
million people in our world are employed by this industry between 1/6 and 1/7 of
by this industry between 1/6 and 1/7 of
by this industry between 1/6 and 1/7 of all the women in our world are employed
all the women in our world are employed
all the women in our world are employed in this industry
in this industry
in this industry which arguably makes it the base
which arguably makes it the base
which arguably makes it the base contributing factor to the gender wage
contributing factor to the gender wage
contributing factor to the gender wage gap in terms of economic impacts if you
gap in terms of economic impacts if you
gap in terms of economic impacts if you are a factory worker in India you earn
are a factory worker in India you earn
are a factory worker in India you earn sixty-eight dollars a month on average
sixty-eight dollars a month on average
sixty-eight dollars a month on average in Thailand 234 dollars a month Cambodia
in Thailand 234 dollars a month Cambodia
in Thailand 234 dollars a month Cambodia 128 dollars a month and Bangladesh 68
128 dollars a month and Bangladesh 68
128 dollars a month and Bangladesh 68 dollars a month now in Bangladesh the
dollars a month now in Bangladesh the
dollars a month now in Bangladesh the specific example that’s 48 percent of a
specific example that’s 48 percent of a
specific example that’s 48 percent of a livable wage when we factor in clothing
livable wage when we factor in clothing
livable wage when we factor in clothing as something that connects us to
as something that connects us to
as something that connects us to environments economies and communities
environments economies and communities
environments economies and communities around the world shouldn’t we consider
around the world shouldn’t we consider
around the world shouldn’t we consider it a bit more we all already participate
it a bit more we all already participate
it a bit more we all already participate in this global system and this global
in this global system and this global
in this global system and this global system presents challenges but also
system presents challenges but also
system presents challenges but also incredible opportunities for example and
incredible opportunities for example and
incredible opportunities for example and this is what makes me the most excited
this is what makes me the most excited
this is what makes me the most excited about this system is that we have never
about this system is that we have never
about this system is that we have never been more connected with the world than
been more connected with the world than
been more connected with the world than we are today
we are today
we are today not just technologically or socially but
not just technologically or socially but
not just technologically or socially but physically as well within the garment
physically as well within the garment
physically as well within the garment industry it is one of the few industries
industry it is one of the few industries
industry it is one of the few industries still today that depends on human labour
still today that depends on human labour
still today that depends on human labour for production and there is a potential
for production and there is a potential
for production and there is a potential that every single garment that is made
that every single garment that is made
that every single garment that is made in the industry could be touched by a
in the industry could be touched by a
in the industry could be touched by a hundred different people before it ends
hundred different people before it ends
hundred different people before it ends up in the store where you purchase it
up in the store where you purchase it
up in the store where you purchase it there’s an entire story to a garment
there’s an entire story to a garment
there’s an entire story to a garment before we even connect with it and see
before we even connect with it and see
before we even connect with it and see it in the store this means that we are
it in the store this means that we are
it in the store this means that we are directly tied with people throughout the
directly tied with people throughout the
directly tied with people throughout the entire world do something as simple as a
entire world do something as simple as a
entire world do something as simple as a garment we are tied to them and they are
garment we are tied to them and they are
garment we are tied to them and they are tied to us as consumers we have created
tied to us as consumers we have created
tied to us as consumers we have created and fuelled the demand where entire
and fuelled the demand where entire
and fuelled the demand where entire populations economies depend on us for
populations economies depend on us for
populations economies depend on us for their livelihoods there are parts of
their livelihoods there are parts of
their livelihoods there are parts of this system the needs be supported and
this system the needs be supported and
this system the needs be supported and sustained like the people that make up
sustained like the people that make up
sustained like the people that make up the workforce the environments that
the workforce the environments that
the workforce the environments that support it and the economies that are
support it and the economies that are
support it and the economies that are affected
affected
affected we as consumers have an impact on this
we as consumers have an impact on this
we as consumers have an impact on this system our demand made it what it is
system our demand made it what it is
system our demand made it what it is today so but if you use our demand to
today so but if you use our demand to
today so but if you use our demand to make the system work for us but also the
make the system work for us but also the
make the system work for us but also the people that grow process die-cut and so
people that grow process die-cut and so
people that grow process die-cut and so the clothing that we wear I’m going to
the clothing that we wear I’m going to
the clothing that we wear I’m going to give you three quick examples of
give you three quick examples of
give you three quick examples of positive efforts places in the world
positive efforts places in the world
positive efforts places in the world where these solutions are already
where these solutions are already
where these solutions are already working number one an economic solution
working number one an economic solution
working number one an economic solution is fair trade and this is as simple as
is fair trade and this is as simple as
is fair trade and this is as simple as people are paid a fair amount for their
people are paid a fair amount for their
people are paid a fair amount for their labor and they all certain liveable
labor and they all certain liveable
labor and they all certain liveable wages a social effort is transparency so
wages a social effort is transparency so
wages a social effort is transparency so transparency is where a business that is
transparency is where a business that is
transparency is where a business that is open about how a product is made and
open about how a product is made and
open about how a product is made and they want to engage you as a consumer
they want to engage you as a consumer
they want to engage you as a consumer and they want to educate you as a
and they want to educate you as a
and they want to educate you as a consumer about that production they want
consumer about that production they want
consumer about that production they want to involve you some brands go so far
to involve you some brands go so far
to involve you some brands go so far then on every tag on your garment that
then on every tag on your garment that
then on every tag on your garment that says what it’s made out of and where it
says what it’s made out of and where it
says what it’s made out of and where it was made there’s a little code that you
was made there’s a little code that you
was made there’s a little code that you can go online to the website you can
can go online to the website you can
can go online to the website you can type in that code and you can see
type in that code and you can see
type in that code and you can see exactly where your garment has traveled
exactly where your garment has traveled
exactly where your garment has traveled throughout the world sometimes you can
throughout the world sometimes you can
throughout the world sometimes you can figure out who actually worked and
figure out who actually worked and
figure out who actually worked and touched on your garment in environmental
touched on your garment in environmental
touched on your garment in environmental terms there are entirely different
terms there are entirely different
terms there are entirely different alternative fashion systems that exist
alternative fashion systems that exist
alternative fashion systems that exist an example of this is a fiber shed a
an example of this is a fiber shed a
an example of this is a fiber shed a fiber shed is where all resources that
fiber shed is where all resources that
fiber shed is where all resources that you need to produce your clothing comes
you need to produce your clothing comes
you need to produce your clothing comes from your local area so that includes
from your local area so that includes
from your local area so that includes both human and natural resources this is
both human and natural resources this is
both human and natural resources this is all sourced locally in a sustainable way
all sourced locally in a sustainable way
all sourced locally in a sustainable way that supports your like local economy
that supports your like local economy
that supports your like local economy community and environment these examples
community and environment these examples
community and environment these examples represent Ray’s in which you can make a
represent Ray’s in which you can make a
represent Ray’s in which you can make a positive impact when you do decide to
positive impact when you do decide to
positive impact when you do decide to purchase something new in other words
purchase something new in other words
purchase something new in other words when building from the ground up use the
when building from the ground up use the
when building from the ground up use the hammer to build structures that we want
hammer to build structures that we want
hammer to build structures that we want to see let’s use our purchasing power to
to see let’s use our purchasing power to
to see let’s use our purchasing power to build and sustain the world that we want
build and sustain the world that we want
build and sustain the world that we want to see but remember there are multiple
to see but remember there are multiple
to see but remember there are multiple ways to use a tool we can also use it to
ways to use a tool we can also use it to
ways to use a tool we can also use it to dismantle
dismantle
dismantle and then also to rebuild again we all
and then also to rebuild again we all
and then also to rebuild again we all already have the tools in our closets
already have the tools in our closets
already have the tools in our closets needed to rebuild remember at any stage
needed to rebuild remember at any stage
needed to rebuild remember at any stage we still have the capability of making
we still have the capability of making
we still have the capability of making decisions that reflects who we are and
decisions that reflects who we are and
decisions that reflects who we are and make positive impacts through our
make positive impacts through our
make positive impacts through our clothing we all have clothing in our
clothing we all have clothing in our
clothing we all have clothing in our closets that are made in this global
closets that are made in this global
closets that are made in this global system so this is what we can do now
system so this is what we can do now
system so this is what we can do now that we own them number one we can
that we own them number one we can
that we own them number one we can launder lightly the footprint that you
launder lightly the footprint that you
launder lightly the footprint that you use for laundering can be reduced eighty
use for laundering can be reduced eighty
use for laundering can be reduced eighty two percent of energy that is tied or
two percent of energy that is tied or
two percent of energy that is tied or eighty two percent of energy consumption
eighty two percent of energy consumption
eighty two percent of energy consumption that is tied to clothing is directly
that is tied to clothing is directly
that is tied to clothing is directly tied to use your care it’s after it’s
tied to use your care it’s after it’s
tied to use your care it’s after it’s already made when it’s in your hands in
already made when it’s in your hands in
already made when it’s in your hands in your home something as simple as washing
your home something as simple as washing
your home something as simple as washing your clothes in cold water or deciding
your clothes in cold water or deciding
your clothes in cold water or deciding not to use the dryer is a really simple
not to use the dryer is a really simple
not to use the dryer is a really simple example of what you do for that also pay
example of what you do for that also pay
example of what you do for that also pay attention to fiber content so synthetic
attention to fiber content so synthetic
attention to fiber content so synthetic fibers something like nylon or polyester
fibers something like nylon or polyester
fibers something like nylon or polyester so these are man-made fibers that are
so these are man-made fibers that are
so these are man-made fibers that are chemically based in their processing
chemically based in their processing
chemically based in their processing whenever an individual synthetic garment
whenever an individual synthetic garment
whenever an individual synthetic garment is washed over 1900 synthetic plastic
is washed over 1900 synthetic plastic
is washed over 1900 synthetic plastic fibers are released into our waterways
fibers are released into our waterways
fibers are released into our waterways as pollutants something as simple as a
as pollutants something as simple as a
as pollutants something as simple as a garment bag that’s specifically designed
garment bag that’s specifically designed
garment bag that’s specifically designed to clasp collect those plastic fibers
to clasp collect those plastic fibers
to clasp collect those plastic fibers can prevent that pollution from
can prevent that pollution from
can prevent that pollution from happening also pay attention to what
happening also pay attention to what
happening also pay attention to what what materials you do wear something as
what materials you do wear something as
what materials you do wear something as simple as wearing natural materials or
simple as wearing natural materials or
simple as wearing natural materials or this is my favorite is wearing materials
this is my favorite is wearing materials
this is my favorite is wearing materials that need to be washed less like hemp or
that need to be washed less like hemp or
that need to be washed less like hemp or wool so a second solution that we can
wool so a second solution that we can
wool so a second solution that we can all do mending is minding this is my
all do mending is minding this is my
all do mending is minding this is my favorite I am biased about this garments
favorite I am biased about this garments
favorite I am biased about this garments are currently made to fall apart that’s
are currently made to fall apart that’s
are currently made to fall apart that’s a part of a business plan to be honest
a part of a business plan to be honest
a part of a business plan to be honest if if something is designed to fall
if if something is designed to fall
if if something is designed to fall apart then you have to return and you
apart then you have to return and you
apart then you have to return and you have to keep consuming and it becomes a
have to keep consuming and it becomes a
have to keep consuming and it becomes a dependent cycle into which you are
dependent cycle into which you are
dependent cycle into which you are dependent on that supplier once the
dependent on that supplier once the
dependent on that supplier once the government falls apart you have to
government falls apart you have to
government falls apart you have to return it and you have to keep returning
return it and you have to keep returning
return it and you have to keep returning these are my jeans
these are my jeans
these are my jeans ah they’re well-loved it’s invented over
ah they’re well-loved it’s invented over
ah they’re well-loved it’s invented over 40 times and I’m looking at two
40 times and I’m looking at two
40 times and I’m looking at two additional holes that will be mended
additional holes that will be mended
additional holes that will be mended later this week I’ve had these jeans for
later this week I’ve had these jeans for
later this week I’ve had these jeans for 10 years now within that time if I did
10 years now within that time if I did
10 years now within that time if I did not mend these pants I should have
not mend these pants I should have
not mend these pants I should have consumed 20 pairs of jeans not just in
consumed 20 pairs of jeans not just in
consumed 20 pairs of jeans not just in my closet but 20 pairs of jeans just to
my closet but 20 pairs of jeans just to
my closet but 20 pairs of jeans just to replace this one pair I originally
replace this one pair I originally
replace this one pair I originally started mending these pants because I do
started mending these pants because I do
started mending these pants because I do not like shopping I do not especially
not like shopping I do not especially
not like shopping I do not especially like Jean shopping and I was too lazy to
like Jean shopping and I was too lazy to
like Jean shopping and I was too lazy to go to the store now I mend them because
go to the store now I mend them because
go to the store now I mend them because I spent so much time and energy
I spent so much time and energy
I spent so much time and energy repairing and mending these pants
repairing and mending these pants
repairing and mending these pants maintaining them they are my most loved
maintaining them they are my most loved
maintaining them they are my most loved and favorite garments in my wardrobe a
and favorite garments in my wardrobe a
and favorite garments in my wardrobe a third option dispose responsibly million
third option dispose responsibly million
third option dispose responsibly million tons of garments are thrown away
tons of garments are thrown away
tons of garments are thrown away annually into the landfill when you do
annually into the landfill when you do
annually into the landfill when you do dispose of your clothing donated to
dispose of your clothing donated to
dispose of your clothing donated to resources that can be so we use or sell
resources that can be so we use or sell
resources that can be so we use or sell their waste to other industries the
their waste to other industries the
their waste to other industries the perfect example is just bringing your
perfect example is just bringing your
perfect example is just bringing your clothing to a secondhand store but also
clothing to a secondhand store but also
clothing to a secondhand store but also pay attention to the waste that you
pay attention to the waste that you
pay attention to the waste that you already have in your closet seventy
already have in your closet seventy
already have in your closet seventy percent of garments in our wardrobe are
percent of garments in our wardrobe are
percent of garments in our wardrobe are inactive we don’t even wear them this
inactive we don’t even wear them this
inactive we don’t even wear them this means you can easily get rid of 50% of
means you can easily get rid of 50% of
means you can easily get rid of 50% of your closet and you can dress the way
your closet and you can dress the way
your closet and you can dress the way that you normally would identify what
that you normally would identify what
that you normally would identify what you are not using and dispose of it in a
you are not using and dispose of it in a
you are not using and dispose of it in a way that can be reused and a fourth
way that can be reused and a fourth
way that can be reused and a fourth option recompose thoughtfully think
option recompose thoughtfully think
option recompose thoughtfully think before you consume Americans buy 20
before you consume Americans buy 20
before you consume Americans buy 20 billion 20 billion pieces of clothing
billion 20 billion pieces of clothing
billion 20 billion pieces of clothing per year to break that down that’s 68
per year to break that down that’s 68
per year to break that down that’s 68 garments per person and 7 pairs of shoes
garments per person and 7 pairs of shoes
garments per person and 7 pairs of shoes a year when you think about buying
a year when you think about buying
a year when you think about buying something ask yourself is there a way I
something ask yourself is there a way I
something ask yourself is there a way I can meet this want or this need with
can meet this want or this need with
can meet this want or this need with something that I already have that can
something that I already have that can
something that I already have that can be altered or can I borrow it from
be altered or can I borrow it from
be altered or can I borrow it from someone else
someone else
someone else and when you do decide to invest in a
and when you do decide to invest in a
and when you do decide to invest in a new garment think about the impacts that
new garment think about the impacts that
new garment think about the impacts that you
you
you want to make if environmental
want to make if environmental
want to make if environmental environmental consciousness is important
environmental consciousness is important
environmental consciousness is important to you find brands that share those same
to you find brands that share those same
to you find brands that share those same values its social responsibility is
values its social responsibility is
values its social responsibility is important that to you then find brands
important that to you then find brands
important that to you then find brands that also want to support that if you
that also want to support that if you
that also want to support that if you want to buy local than buy local odds
want to buy local than buy local odds
want to buy local than buy local odds are you’re perfect environmentally
are you’re perfect environmentally
are you’re perfect environmentally socially and economically sustainable
socially and economically sustainable
socially and economically sustainable garment is currently not out there and
garment is currently not out there and
garment is currently not out there and whatever style you personally like to
whatever style you personally like to
whatever style you personally like to wear whatever size you wear an exact
wear whatever size you wear an exact
wear whatever size you wear an exact shade of blue that you like to wear
shade of blue that you like to wear
shade of blue that you like to wear that’s okay we have to remember to keep
that’s okay we have to remember to keep
that’s okay we have to remember to keep at it and slowly through our collective
at it and slowly through our collective
at it and slowly through our collective demand we might increase the
demand we might increase the
demand we might increase the availability of a wider range from
availability of a wider range from
availability of a wider range from responsible fashion designers and brands
responsible fashion designers and brands
responsible fashion designers and brands most importantly find things that work
most importantly find things that work
most importantly find things that work for you many of these pants
for you many of these pants
for you many of these pants 40-times works for me as of your jeans
40-times works for me as of your jeans
40-times works for me as of your jeans will look different than my jeans find
will look different than my jeans find
will look different than my jeans find what works for you and go for it
what works for you and go for it
what works for you and go for it launder lightly mend mindfully dispose
launder lightly mend mindfully dispose
launder lightly mend mindfully dispose responsibly and recompose thoughtfully
responsibly and recompose thoughtfully
responsibly and recompose thoughtfully use the tool of clothing to deconstruct
use the tool of clothing to deconstruct
use the tool of clothing to deconstruct in a way that fits your values so I’m
in a way that fits your values so I’m
in a way that fits your values so I’m going to return to tools for a little
going to return to tools for a little
going to return to tools for a little bit because I just like talking about
bit because I just like talking about
bit because I just like talking about tools the creation use of tools is an
tools the creation use of tools is an
tools the creation use of tools is an identifying characteristic of humans but
identifying characteristic of humans but
identifying characteristic of humans but the capability to use tools is enhanced
the capability to use tools is enhanced
the capability to use tools is enhanced by another unique human trait humans use
by another unique human trait humans use
by another unique human trait humans use symbols and language to develop shared
symbols and language to develop shared
symbols and language to develop shared systems and shared beliefs when we use
systems and shared beliefs when we use
systems and shared beliefs when we use tools to the greatest potential toward
tools to the greatest potential toward
tools to the greatest potential toward our shared values and shared beliefs we
our shared values and shared beliefs we
our shared values and shared beliefs we have the power to change the world
have the power to change the world
have the power to change the world for example fire was originally used to
for example fire was originally used to
for example fire was originally used to keep us warm but also made it possible
keep us warm but also made it possible
keep us warm but also made it possible for humans to eat a wider variety of
for humans to eat a wider variety of
for humans to eat a wider variety of food and alter the state of physical
food and alter the state of physical
food and alter the state of physical materials that the use of that one tool
materials that the use of that one tool
materials that the use of that one tool has altered the course of history
has altered the course of history
has altered the course of history forever
forever
forever let us see clothing not only as
let us see clothing not only as
let us see clothing not only as something to keep us warm and protect us
something to keep us warm and protect us
something to keep us warm and protect us but a tool that is valuable and empowers
but a tool that is valuable and empowers
but a tool that is valuable and empowers us to create change clothing won’t
us to create change clothing won’t
us to create change clothing won’t change the world but the people who wear
change the world but the people who wear
change the world but the people who wear them will every garment we own and use
them will every garment we own and use
them will every garment we own and use as an opportunity an opportunity to
as an opportunity an opportunity to
as an opportunity an opportunity to start seeing how we are tied to
start seeing how we are tied to
start seeing how we are tied to communities economies and environments
communities economies and environments
communities economies and environments around the world one size does not fit
around the world one size does not fit
around the world one size does not fit all
all
all but find the solutions that work for you
but find the solutions that work for you
but find the solutions that work for you and that your actions reflect what you
and that your actions reflect what you
and that your actions reflect what you believe any of what you want for our
believe any of what you want for our
believe any of what you want for our world thank you
world thank you
world thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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