Do you want to watch depressing videos about cloth fibre production?

November 29, 2023 10:00 AM

Kristine Vike, PhD in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, has got you covered. Get started with The Surprisingly Dangerous Story of Viscose, Hidden Chemicals in your Clothes, or Why So-Called Textile Recycling Is An Absolute Disgrace. (On a lighter note: Making Batwings For My Cat Didn’t Quite Go As Planned.) You can also read her academic papers or visit her website, where she describes herself as a "history, sewing, and sustainability enthusiast."
posted by clawsoon (10 comments total)

The textile/fashion industry needs a rethink. It is notoriously poor at managing its environmental impacts.

Fashion’s tiny hidden secret, a UNEP report on the fashion industry inputs to microplastics. Depending on which survey you look at the textile industry is the #1 or #2 source of microplastics in the environment (tire wear is the other tossup).
posted by bonehead at 10:18 AM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

The viscose video is absolutely gripping -- she frames it around the story of a French Resistance fighter who was forced to work in a German viscose factory. Well worth a watch!
posted by ourobouros at 10:18 AM on November 29, 2023 [3 favorites]

If that's too depressing, you can also watch her make costumes for her cats as a palate cleanser!
posted by intrepidduckling at 1:28 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

Yeah, textile production is right up there with one of the worst things for the people and planet--even organic fibre production might not be great for the land and exploit child labour :/ It's really well hidden which is why fast fashion is a catastrophe.
posted by Calzephyr at 2:04 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

..."day successfully wasted, cats successfully traumatized..." I have goals!
posted by winesong at 4:18 PM on November 29, 2023 [1 favorite]

Wow, I made the mistake of watching one of the cat videos first, then the viscose video! Fascinating stuff but OH MY GOD!
posted by mittens at 4:38 PM on November 29, 2023

If the term 'viscose' is new to you, the fabric is also called Rayon.

The name "rayon" was adopted in 1924, with "viscose" being used for the viscous organic liquid used to make both rayon and cellophane. In Europe, though, the fabric itself became known as "viscose", which has been ruled an acceptable alternative term for rayon by the US Federal Trade Commission.

posted by Rash at 10:11 AM on November 30, 2023

I just watched her video Why Do Polyester Clothes Get So Stinky?!, where she talks about recent research on the interactions between various fibres and the water-vs-fatty acids content of our armpit and groin sweat. It reminded me of the Metafilter post The Rise, and Fall, and Rise Again of Polyester, which talked about the development of polyester fibres which are able to wick moisture away from the body, resulting in polyester clothing becoming much more popular.

The research, she says, has found that the new polyester fibres wick away moisture in a way that concentrates the fatty acids, which is what the bacteria which make the stink like to consume.
posted by clawsoon at 11:29 AM on November 30, 2023

Absolutely loved the PFAS episode..  "This was chimically predictable!"
posted by jeffburdges at 5:30 PM on December 16, 2023 [1 favorite]

Iodine is a halogen too, but work pretty differently. I'd love her or others coments on this.

"Organoiodine compounds .. are similar in structure to organochlorine and organobromine compounds, but the C-I bond is weaker. Many organic iodides are known, but few are of major industrial importance. Iodide compounds are mainly produced as nutritional supplements."
posted by jeffburdges at 5:23 AM on December 17, 2023