This project has been all about ethical materials, techniques and processes. Originally I was looking at using materials from other garments or furnishings, which would have given me a whole range of fabrics to choose from. However now that I have experimented with my pattern, I have realised that this source will not be appropriate due to the amount of fabric I will need, cutting up existing dresses will not provide me with the length of fabric needed and my final garment would end up being patchy, also adding unwanted weight to the garment.
I have decided to continue ethically sourcing my fabrics by supporting local, fair trade companies, such as Green Fibres in Totnes. Being fair trade, this keeps with the ethical idea by helping give better pay, work conditions and overall a better life to those in poorer countries who are out there each day picking and producing materials such as cotton.
For my pattern I am using print, foil and embroidery, although these are not in themselves ethical techniques I have decided that they fit my design best and add depth to my pattern, which is suggested within my images throughout this project.
To keep within the ethical limitations I am leaving the main part of the garment the colour I purchase it as, this means I will not be using dye’s and therefore minimising the risk to the environment. I have thought about the use of natural dyes, which I have already looked into and produced a final garment with for a previous project, but for this project I have decided I like the look of the raw fabric and feel that adding colour would distract from the main features of the garment.
Overall I think I have a fair balance between ethical and non-ethical substances in my designs and processes.
