Week 2: Graduation

Week 2: Blog 2

Franchesca Flores

Photo from Express.com

I guess you can say week two wasn’t my hottest week for the be green challenge, I’m about to graduate next month, whoo! And of course, I’m trying to look my best I have all year for my graduation, so this weekend I went back home to go look for my graduation outfit. But I do want to say that before I went to look for a graduation dress in stores, I did raid my mothers and sister closet, and what do you guess, I didn’t find anything that said, "Yes!!!" As much as I’d love to wear designer clothing like Gucci or Versace to my graduation, I don’t have the funds to casually shop at these stores that are mentioned in the documentary, True Cost, to be more ethical and sustainable against fast fashion, since they are made either by request or in an exclusive amount. So, you could find me in Express, where I bought a jumpsuit that was made in Sri Lanka. Asking myself more where my clothes are made from, I decided to look into the wages and conditions these workers. Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia, where the sweatshop workers get paid 18,500 rupees a month ($126) and about 4.30 euros a day ($6.23). The clothing industry in Sri Lanka employs about 300,00 people and is known to have better working conditions than other clothing producing countries (Kale, 2016). Although they have better working conditions, they do get paid less than the living wage in the country which is 48,608 rupees ($332). I’m really trying to keep it real with this challenge, so I do want this to be my last consumer purchase of clothing in stores while this challenge is ongoing. So that means I’ll be reaching out to my moms and sisters closest again to complete my graduation look. 

Works cited:

Kale, Sirin. "How Much It Sucks to Be a Sri Lankan Worker..." Broadly, VICE. 17 May 2016. 

"True True Cost." Directed by Andrew Morgan. 2015.

Week 2 - Britney

Qiuying Lin (Britney)
ASA 141
Week 2

In this week, I almost bought new clothes because of the discount on Urban Outfitters. It was so attractive when I saw the 30% off for dresses. But I finally realized that the reason why I wanted to buy the clothes was not because of my need or my preference. The thing triggered my desire was cheap price, then I decided to choose something I could buy among the discounted products. This is the normal but wrong idea of consumer influenced by fast fashion nowadays. We should consciously change the surface view of a product from price into the deep meaningful view of the design of product. I really love the dynamic formation of design from Buddy Mahil mentioned in the article "It's hip to be Asian", "one need not wear what is already designed and stitched for one, but one may create an individually produced suit by inputting one’s own ideas by negotiating with a design/retail professional" (52). This codes the special meaning from consumer inside the design and make the clothes unique. Bubby even allowed his customers to go through the fabric samples to choose the fabric so that they could design what exactly suit to customers and go beyond embodying the dresses. I think that is why the Asian ethnic clothes could lead a fashion trend in London. The savvy design democratizer took seriously to the clothes, respects each steps in the product process and integrated new ideas into the clothing. These are exactly something we need to arouse and reflect in contemporary period where we lose our wits under the fast fashion flow.

In order to look at sustainability in fast fashion in detail, Maarit's article "Designing Sustainable Fashion: Possibilities and Challenges" gives me a brief view of a model which is to serve fashion designers, who wish to take sustainability into consideration. The concepts of the core category, “considered take and return” means you can only take out of a system the same amount of energy as you put back in, with no pollution or waste. Then we could insert sustainable idea into each step in supply chain. For example, we could merge the processing stages and use updated methods that consume a minimum amount of water and energy in the finishing processes of fabrics. The following picture is the overview of the model.

Works Cited

• Bhachu, Parminder. "It’s hip to be Asian: The local and global networks of Asian fashion entrepreneurs in London." Transnational Spaces. Routledge, 2004. 52-71.
• Maarit Aakko, Ritva Koskennurmi-Sivonen, (2013) "Designing Sustainable Fashion: Possibilities and Challenges", Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, Vol. 17 Issue: 1, pp.13-22, https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-17-01-2013-B002

Week 2: Be Green Challenge

Mahima Rupakula
ASA 141
5/519

Week 2: Be Green

This week during the Be Green challenge, I successfully avoided buying any clothing or accessories! However, there was only one point where I really wanted to. This week I was hosting the Indian Student Association culture show all of Sunday, and there was a moment where I realized my earrings didn't really match my sari. I realized this was a petty reason to break the challenge, so I decided to just make a different pair of earrings work by changing my makeup. This pair of earrings meant a lot to me, as it signified which region I'm from in India just based on the way I styled my sari/my earrings. This reminds me a lot of the different kimono colors and prints we learned about in class. I thought it was very interesting and I could relate to how the specific print and color corresponded to a certain family. I don't have this exact experience, but I have seen that you can tell exactly what region is from in India just buy something as simple as earrings or how someone ties their sari! I have some different styles of tying that I've shown below, such as the classic Gujarati sari and the voni lengha, or half sari which is representative of South India but mainly in the region of Andhra Pradhesh.

Images: the Gujurati style of tying a sari (on the top) vs. the voni langa on the bottom.

References

“Kimono Refashioned.” Asian Art Museum | Kimono Refashioned, www.asianart.org/ exhibitions/kimono-refashioned.

“Half Sarees | Designer Half Sarees, Langa Voni Designs.” Mirraw.com, www.mirraw.com/ sarees/half-sarees

Week 2: Be green!

Mary Qin
ASA 141
Week 2


The first week of this challenge has been a little bit difficult. With the weather becoming warmer, everyone seems to be increasingly more fashionable. I walked through Forever 21 last week and noticed that the clothes on the shelves reflected the fashion trends that have noticeably become popular around campus.  As a result, I was tempted to update my wardrobe as well. Hjoleifur R. Jonnson and Nora A Taylor's article, "National Colors: Ethnic Minorities in Vietnamese Public Imagery" mention how clothing can mark people's identities and differences in society. I feel like this idea kind of ties to my biggest motivators to shop. I like to look cute, on trend, and put together. I want my clothing to compliment my confidence and who I am, which makes this challenge difficult for me. This kind of reminds me of  the film, "Good Hair," where women are willing to spend thousands of dollars just to look nice.  A lot of this pressure comes from the media, which depict a specific type of hair as "good hair." I feel like most people think that only teenagers are greatly effected by peer pressure and the media. But, in fact, even grown women of all ages are influenced by the media's standard of beauty. Forever 21 is a good way to keep up with those fashion trends, especially on a budget. However, the different videos and articles in this class have made me second guess whenever I buy a new piece of clothing from that store. I feel like it can be almost impossible to completely refrain from fast fashion on a budget. Marc Bain mentions in his article "Can Cheap Fashion Ever be Ethical?" that the biggest problem with cheap fashion is the general way the industry works. While some people see it as just a temporary problem and use China as a example that started with cheap labor before using the money to advance into better jobs, I think that there will always be exploitation until there is some sort of regulation.

This challenge has helped me notice how much I am temped to shop for useless things. Even just today at the museum, I was tempted to buy a key chain as a gift to my significant other. I don't really know what he would do with it, yet the temptation was there. This challenge has also made me try to think about creative ways to get objects that I would like to utilize. For example, I realized this week that I lost my lash glue. My first instinct was to order some more, but I am trying to instead ask to borrow my friend's.

Word Cited:

Bain, Marc. “Can Cheap Fashion Ever Be Ethical?” Quartz, Quartz, 27 Apr. 2019, qz.com/1570685/can-fashion-brands-like-hm-ever-be-ethical/.

 Jonnson, Hjoleifur R.and Taylor', Nora A. "National Colors: Ethnic Minorities in Vietnamese Public Imagery" Re-Orienting Fashion: The Globalization of Asia of Asia Dress. 2003.

Stillson, Jeff. Good Hair. 2009

Week 2

Jacqueline Yee
Week 2
ASA 141

This was the first week of the Be Green Challenge. But because I was swamped with midterms and papers, I did not have much free time to feel the urge to shop or browse the sales online. The challenge did not pose much of a problem this week, but I do think the urge to spend money on material items, will be difficult as the weeks progress. In last week’s reading, Crossing the Assembly Line, fast fashion and the commercialization of garments made me realize the divide between high and low fashion, and how countries that manufacture garments are pushed to reinforce this difference. This helped “establish an industrial system that was geared to satisfy overseas buyers’ demand for reliable and standardized manufacturing to any given specification” (53) and devalue the skills of the local workers (53). This challenge is important to realize the beliefs and effects of the companies I spend my money on have on society.  

Though I did not spend money on clothes, I did spend a lot of money on food and coffee, which is not sustainable for both my wallet and the environment. I think society puts a lot of focus on changing the diet to be more sustainable for the environment, like eating less red meat or eating more organic and locally sourced food. Another aspect is food packaging, which includes all the plastic wrap, single-use utensils and plastic straws used for ready to eat or take out foods. This contributes to a lot of plastic waste but can be greatly reduced with the use of metal straws or bringing your own utensils and containers. Though it is not always convenient, I think this week has made me more conscious of the waste I produce and how I can minimize that. A lot of new research in the food tech industry is now in the food packaging sector. In the article/photo linked below, the USDA is looking into creating 100% edible/biodegradable plastic wrap out of lactose.

https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2007/edible-films-made-from-dairy-biofuel-byproducts/

References:

1. Tokarz, L. (2007, June 5). Edible Films Made From Dairy, Biofuel Byproducts. Retrieved May 5, 2019, from https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2007/edible-films-made-from-dairy-biofuel-byproducts/
2. Thuy Link Nguyen, Crossing the Assembly Line

Week 2- Be green (Diane Tran)

Diane Tran
ASA 141
Week 2

A week into our Go Green challenge, I forgot about our challenge but I am proud to say I have not bought any clothes or things I do not need. However, it was hard. I was really tempted to buy new clothes online because I just had an instinct for these shirts and shoes that I wanted because they were on sale. When I shop I usually try to find deals or take a double take if I really want that clothing item or not. I had to remind myself that I did not need these shirts and shoes since I already had so many shoes and clothes anyways. I should have reminded myself to not succumb to temptations and remind myself that fast fashion is a horrible exploitation on workers. Throughout this week I have only spent money on food. To say the least I am super proud of not failing the challenge just yet. Moving onto to week 2, I hope to stick with this challenge but it will be hard since Mother's day is coming up and I want to be able to get a great gift to show my mom how much I care for her. I was thinking instead of buying clothes, shoes, etc for Mother's day I can probably get her flowers, cook, and make something for her instead. This way I can still stick with the challenge. In the article, "Cultural Economy of Asian Chic" by Thuy Nguyen describes how magazines showcase "these garments, which enable and articulate fashion's symbolic value, are more easily and widely consumed than the real thing. As we know, magazines engage in acts of translation and interpretation... a fashion commodity that coexists with but also exceeds material object" (Nguyen, 8). Instead of magazines, people do not use magazines as much as seeing fashion online. This generation see clothes be "translated and interpretat(ed)" in online shopping.

Works Cited:

Thuy Linh Nguyen. "The Cultural Economy of Asian Chic".

Johnson, Timothy. “How the Fashion Industry Influences Online Shopping.” Hit Squaaaaaad, Hit Squaaaaaad, 12 Sept. 2017, www.hitsquadproduction.com/fashion-industry-influences-online-shopping/.

Be Green Challenge

Week 2

Zoe Martin

Sustainable diet too?

Thus far, my experience with the Be Green Challenge has been successful. I have made it an entire week without buying clothes or make-up. Additionally, I cleaned out my closet to have more of a capsule wardrobe as I wrote about last week. I think that “Crossing the Assembly Line” really opened my eyes when I read that underpaid Asian immigrants are depending on their wages for survival. It made me feel really bad about supporting the fast fashion industry and created a slight aversion to shopping since Forever 21 is really my only option in Davis.

I think my biggest waste contribution this week was food. I was so busy--back to back classes and work that I kept ordering take-out. This challenge made me more conscious about packaging, and I realized how wasteful food containers are. This made me wonder, how can I be more sustainable when it comes to food consumption? I found an article from the New York Times called “A Guide to Sustainable Eating” in which it discusses dietary habits in terms of  “your health and the well-being of generations to come.” I thought that this was a really great approach to looking at the way we eat. Even just limiting red meat to once a week will decrease the carbon footprint your diet will have on the planet. I think this is something interesting to try for the rest of the Be Green Challenge.

I thnk this first week has given me the confidence to complete this challenge and has even inspired me to take measures about being sustainable in other aspects of my life such as diet! My upcoming social calendar does make me a little nervous about being a sustainable consumer. I have sorority events and a wedding which I need outfits for; however, I can try alternatives such as borrowing clothes or thrift shopping. I am hopeful that I will be able to stick to the challenge.

References:

Brody, Jane E. “A Guide to Sustainable Eating.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/08/well/eat/a-guide-to-sustainable-eating.html.

Thuy Linh Nguyen Tu, “Crossing the Assembly Line.”