Comments on: The Life Cycle of Clothes http://www.fashiondualite.com/2008/03/05/the-life-cycle-of-clothes/ Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:49:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dahlia http://www.fashiondualite.com/2008/03/05/the-life-cycle-of-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Dahlia Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:39:43 +0000 http://dualite.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-118 It obviously gets more complex when you're questioning the fabric itself and not where they're being made, the textile industry is a whole other matter that I wouldn't know where to begin researching. The most interesting (if not disturbing) of all are the use of exotic skins like crocodile, where there are farms of hundreds of young crocodiles, bred and doomed to be used for handbags, their meat sold in markets. A good crocodile skin from an Australia farm costs $600, and they only use the belly side, the back side is too rough for handbags. A friend of mine who is studying in making handbags here in Canada said that to purchase 1sq. foot of croc skin is $1000 (the skin is probably treated and tanned before hand though and not served, um, raw), so the mark up of workmanship (assuming you're working for a reputable handbag company) and embellishments will boost the retail price sky high. I'd sew my own clothes, but I obviously have no talent or patience to do so. Those home economics courses I took when I was 12 obviously weren't enough to help me out right now. It would be interesting though if someone took on the challenge of exploring the textile industry, but I don't think I would be that person, lol. It obviously gets more complex when you’re questioning the fabric itself and not where they’re being made, the textile industry is a whole other matter that I wouldn’t know where to begin researching. The most interesting (if not disturbing) of all are the use of exotic skins like crocodile, where there are farms of hundreds of young crocodiles, bred and doomed to be used for handbags, their meat sold in markets. A good crocodile skin from an Australia farm costs $600, and they only use the belly side, the back side is too rough for handbags. A friend of mine who is studying in making handbags here in Canada said that to purchase 1sq. foot of croc skin is $1000 (the skin is probably treated and tanned before hand though and not served, um, raw), so the mark up of workmanship (assuming you’re working for a reputable handbag company) and embellishments will boost the retail price sky high.

I’d sew my own clothes, but I obviously have no talent or patience to do so. Those home economics courses I took when I was 12 obviously weren’t enough to help me out right now. It would be interesting though if someone took on the challenge of exploring the textile industry, but I don’t think I would be that person, lol.

]]> By: Nancy http://www.fashiondualite.com/2008/03/05/the-life-cycle-of-clothes/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Nancy Sat, 08 Mar 2008 05:26:02 +0000 http://dualite.wordpress.com/?p=199#comment-117 I agree about mending and wearing old clothes. I like to sew, and I wonder about buying new fabric. Where is it made? What impact does it make on the earth? How much are the workers paid? What do you think? I agree about mending and wearing old clothes. I like to sew, and I wonder about buying new fabric. Where is it made? What impact does it make on the earth? How much are the workers paid?

What do you think?

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