Sustainable Fibres for Fashion Industry

Volume 1

herausgegeben von: Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu, Miguel Angel Gardetti

Verlag: Springer Singapore

Buchreihe : Environmental Footprints and Eco-design of Products and Processes

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book covers all sustainable fibres applicable in the fashion sector and discusses their importance in the context of sustainability. It is the first of its kind to address all the minute details pertaining to these fibres and to connect these fibres with the world of sustainable fashion. It stresses their importance in developing sustainable apparel, since fibres play a major role as the starting point in the life cycle of clothing.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Luxury Hair Fibers for Fashion Industry

Abstract

The fashion industry has been captivated by natural fibers, particularly animal hair fibers due to their specific characteristics—such as fineness, warmth, suppleness, visual appearance, and finally mystique—since ancient times. Animal hair fibers protect the animal from extreme weather particularly at high altitude/low temperature, and thus generally their production is not as high as fine wool fiber from sheep. The limited production and unique characteristics lead them to be used in the fashion industry to enhance the aesthetic and prestige look of garments. Being utilized in luxurious fashion industry, they are also known as luxury or exotic fibers. To reduce the cost of the end product and impart novelty, these hair fibers are used often in conjunction with either sheep’s wool or other natural fibers. These blends produce special effects, such as additional beauty, texture, colour, softness, resilience, durability, and luster, on garments. Luxury hair fibers are exceptionally fine (8–16 μ) and are in high demand for the production of fashion garments and accessories, which led to brink of extinction of luxury hair fibre-producing animals such as antelope in Tibet. To help sustain the luxury hair fiber industry, this chapter considers the existing luxury hair fibers in the fashion market and their potential applications.

Ammayappan Lakshmanan, Seiko Jose, Sujay Chakraborty

Mainstreaming of Sustainable Cotton in the German Clothing Industry

Abstract

This chapter analyses the sustainability-oriented transformation of clothing industries. Although sustainability pioneers introduce new products in niche markets, incumbents advance them into the mass market. Together this can lead to the transformation of industries, markets, and consumer habits. We examine the German clothing retail industry with a focus on organic cotton and related sustainable fibres. The analysis covers some of the largest German textile retailers. Data collection is based on publicly available sources. We find that in the late 1970s, Hess Natur pioneered organic cotton practices and supported the development of sustainability standards in the clothing industry. Although in the beginning this was largely a phenomenon in niche markets, some of the organic practices have now diffused amongst mainstream retailers. This is counterintuitive because previous theory suggests that incumbents only adopt practices with significantly lower sustainability standards than do niche companies. The findings can support managers to better understand their organization’s role in the transformation of industries and markets toward sustainability, and—vice versa—understand how the transformation may affect them. Leading the transformation challenge by adopting organic and other sustainable supply chain practices can be an important measure for market success.

Erik G. Hansen, Stefan Schaltegger

Possum Fiber—A Wonderful Creation of Nature

Abstract

Possum fiber is harvested from a rodent called the “possum.” The fiber is very soft and smooth, unlike merino wool fiber. The fiber is quite different from other animal fibers because of its unique shape and morphology: The fiber is hollow lengthwise, which provides high warmth. Possum fiber is mainly harvested in New Zealand from brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). During the past 15 years, the possum fur industry has grown in New Zealand, and the fiber, when blended with merino wool, produces various luxury apparel including coats, jackets, scarves, and cloaks. However, the inherent color of possum fiber (reddish brown) could be a problem because the fabric made from it needs to be white or other lighter colors. It is difficult to bleach possum fiber by traditional bleaching methods with hydrogen peroxide and chlorine. In this chapter, brushtail possum and their habitat and food, the harvesting of fur from possum, the physical and mechanical properties of possum fiber, and the mechanical and chemical processing methods, including bleaching and dyeing, will be discussed.

Mohammad Mahbubul Hassan

Natural Fibres for Sustainable Development in Fashion Industry

Abstract

Ample numbers of natural fibres are available in nature from plants, animals, insects, and minerals. Each fibre is different from others, and that causes difference in their properties. Accordingly, these fibres alone, or in admixture with other fibres, are used in the design and development of specific fashion products. With time, different fashion industries have been developed all over the world for manufacturing different fibre-based fashion products. There is a huge potential of value addition in these fashion industries with the intervention of newer product design. Again, in this fashion industry, apart from newer design, avoiding the use of common natural fibres (cotton, wool, silk, etc.) commands more profit. Recent trends also show the use of these natural fibres for sustainable growth in this fashion industry. This chapter also deals with future aspects of the use of uncommon natural fibre for sustainable fashion industry.

Sanjoy Debnath

Sustainable Biopolymer Fibers—Production, Properties and Applications

Abstract

The ultimatum for renewable raw materials is growing steadily as the drive for a green economy and a sustainable future accelerates. Escalating environmental problems and changing attitudes of consumers have made petroleum-based manufactured products more expensive and less desirable in the present world. Biopolymers, which are biological or biologically derived polymers, are a petroleum-free source of fibers for the textile industry and have a significant positive impact by reducing the dependence on fossil fuels as well as the carbon foot print and may even offer cost and durability benefits compared with synthetic textiles. This chapter deals with the less investigated and emerging biopolymer fibers, which will have huge impact on sustainable luxury fashion in the future. Bio-fibers from animal protein (spider silk, hag fish slime), regenerated cellulose (seaweed), and regenerated protein (milk fiber) as well as biopolymers synthesized from bio-derived monomers (PLA, PTT) are discussed in depth. The raw materials for production/extraction of fibers and their properties, applications, and ecological impacts are discussed.

Karthik Thangavelu, Krishna Bala Subramani

Case Study of Renewable Bacteria Cellulose Fiber and Biopolymer Composites in Sustainable Design Practices

Abstract

This case study challenged researchers and practitioners to rethink what constitutes sustainable consumer products in a world of increasingly stressed natural resources by exploring innovative ways to develop renewable biocomposite materials, e.g., leather-like nonwoven fabrics, that can be used for apparel and footwear products. Scientific research was conducted to identify cultivation and treatment methods that produce cellulose fiber mats, formed by bacteria and yeast in fermenting tea, with sufficient strength for use in apparel. Wearable products made of the green-tea based cellulose fiber mats can be an alternate future in which we move to a cradle-to-cradle (C2C) system instead of relying on materials derived from unsustainable sources. The outcome of this innovative and sustainable design effort is presented by creating aesthetically pleasing, biodegradable apparel prototypes and providing a promising future for this nonwoven material as an alternate future suitable for the apparel and footwear industries. A consumer survey was conducted of users’ perceptions and acceptance of using apparel products made of this material, and the results of the survey are discussed.

Y. A. Lee

Titel: Sustainable Fibres for Fashion Industry
herausgegeben von: Subramanian Senthilkannan Muthu
Miguel Angel Gardetti
Verlag: Springer Singapore
Electronic ISBN: 978-981-10-0522-0
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-0520-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0522-0