Integration of Sustainability: An Approach towards Global Apparel and Textile Higher Education Curriculum
Introduction:
Human ignorance for destruction and uncontrolled utilization
of natural resources has resulted in various environmental hazards. Its consequences
are cropped up as global warming and green house effect. It has become a big
challenge for the modern society with global explorations and expansions to
save these resources by minimizing their irreversible depletion. The existing
circumstances compel us to live in an environment chock-full of air polluted
with carbon dioxide, water containing toxic chemical wastes and infertile soil
holding lots of pesticides; swathe ourselves with sweatshop-tailored and
detrimentally packaged apparels.
The main problem of the textile industry is a fancy familiar
word called globalization, and its key identifying feature, trade
liberalization. Globalization and information technology have
transpired rapidly changing fashion designs, low quality apparel available for
sell at cheap price in bulk, global increase in awareness of fashion
consciousness and adaptation result in larger amounts of apparel disposal and
thereby a new concept of carbon footprint has emerged. This state of affairs
has alarming upshots on the physical, social & ethical health of human race
and the surrounding environment.
Concept of Sustainability:
Environment and social welfare both are closely related to
and highly affected by various processes practiced for textile and apparel
production. These are related to sustainability-sustainable production as well
as sustainable consumption.
Definitions of and approaches to sustainability vary
depending on the view and interest of the definer, but each emphasizes that
activities are ecologically sound, socially just, economically viable and
humane, and that they will continue to be so for future generations.
Historically, the term sustainable arose among those with environmental
concerns, and most definitions reflect this emphasis. It is critical, however,
to address social responsibility issues, and to know that there can be no
sustainable communities and institutions without social justice. The most
frequently cited definition of sustainability came from the report of the World
Commission on Environment and Development, in its description of new directions
for our common future. Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.18
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The
author is Assistant Professor in Home Science (Clothing & Textile), G.D. Govt. College for Women, Alwar (Rajasthan).
