'Cotton On Conference'

I attended a really interesting and eye opening conference today all about Cotton . . . This event was organised by The Bishopston Trading Company, Bristol City Council, and howies

Cotton On

"From Plant to Process, from Fair Trade to Fashion  Design."

A one-day conference exploring the aspect of cotton and challenging us to find the most sustainable way forward.

Speakers included:

Lucy Siegle, Ethical Living and Observer, environmental journalist.  Abigail Petit, Director, Gossypium.  Barbara Crowther, Communications Director, Fairtrade Foundation.  Claire Durkin, BERR / DfID Joint Trade Policy Unit.  Hannah Durrant, Oxfam GB Campaigns.  Simon Ferrigno, Organic Exchange.  Damien San Filippo, Pesticide Action Network.  Tamsin Lejeune, Ethical Fashion Forum.  Gillian Lipton, Monsoon.  Sam Maher, Labour Behind the Label.  Robin Maynard, Campaigns Director, Soil Association.  Vanessa Parr, Fairtrade Foundation.   Monica Philbrick, Traidcraft.  Carolyn Whitwell, Bishopston Trading Company.

Workshops lead by :-Fairtrade and Organic clothing pioneers -

People Tree
Ethical Fashion Leaders
Trade Justice Campaigners
The corporate sector government

Cotton: from plant to process and from fair trade to fashion and design A one-day conference exploring every aspect of this fascinating fibre and challenging us to find the most sustainable ways forward. The day is open to everyone with an interest, from fashion students to ethical consumers, from textile manufacturers to campaigners, from clothing retailers to certifiers, from development students to designers. Come along and find out more about this amazing fibre, which involves over 100 million households globally in its production and many more in its design, manufacture, retail and consumption. Talks and workshops will include first-hand accounts from Fairtrade and organic clothing pioneers, ethical fashion leaders, trade justice campaigners, big business and government. The day will finish with a vibrant debate from key speakers - and pledges for future action! Cotton on will be a unique opportunity to debate the key issues and to take action for change . .

This was a really interesting day, it has given me so much to think about in regards to the production of the textiles I use, where have the come from? Who has been involved in the production of them? I do tend to use found / reclaimed textiles in my work but I will now definitely question any new textiles I buy.