We’re all suddenly aware of melamine in milk and poisoned dog food, but the next big scandal could strike textiles. An American laboratory was prompted to begin investigating children’s clothing for formaldehyde, an agent used in the permanent-press process, finding levels in a handful of items that would be harmful. The research was triggered by a different kind of textile – furniture upholstery. Dimethyl fumarate, is used in furniture manufacture and has affected people across the USA and Europe with severe irritant and allergic reactions. Contact dermatitis is an inflammation caused by contact with a foreign substance – around 3% of people who develop the problem are allergic to permanent-press chemicals. In a study in Texas, they discovered levels ranging from 86 to 136 ppm in three out of 11 boys’ khakis and in one out of 12 dress shirts from Asia and Latin America – and the most disturbing thing of all was that the most expensive trousers also had the highest level of formaldehyde. Japan limits formaldehyde to 75 ppm in items that come into direct contact with skin.
Most people don’t think about a threat from clothing, especially for children, but in many parts of the world hazardous chemicals are used in textile processing – and if the supply chain isn’t clear, or the factories don’t have good health and safety that tests for toxicity they end up on our bodies.
Back to dimethyl fumarate, the ‘problem powder’ that has been found in furniture upholstery, reaction to the powder has affected over 100 people in Finland and hundreds more in Britain, while 400 French families have suffered from their new furniture. And recently, some dimethyl has been found in ‘fun fur’ trimmings on flying jackets and fur bags – high cost fashion items that could give thousands of teens contact dermatitis. And it’s reputed to be used in some Far East factories to plump out the padding on padded jackets and body-warmersthat are sold in discount stores or on eBay.
It’s a real issue because the EU’s chemical industry produces 31% of the world’s chemicals and employs 1.7 million people. Millions of others work in industries such as car production or textiles, which are big users of chemicals. But unless the textile industry can guarantee its supply chains, these kinds of problem will become more common and people will start to lose confidence in their clothing retailers. Good supply chains and clear health and safety guidelines, implemented by trustworthy brands, are going to matter more and more, as the risks of tainted textiles become something that people think about whenever they get dressed.
Software developers Worldweaver Ltd have a competition for the best game demo made using the DX Studio platform. It’s an ideal contest for the well-dressed geek, or perhaps the geek who would like to be well dressed! You have to unleash your inner gamer and come up with a complete demo by 20th December and the prizes are impressive: the winner gets £1,000 cash, a Commercial Pro DX Studio license (whatever that means) and a limited edition DX Studio Polo Shirt and USB key. Runners up will receive a Non-commercial Pro DX Studio license, Polo-Shirt and USB key. Winners will be announced on 22nd December. More details at www.dxstudio.com
And a Hawaiian shirt company has broken its own world record. Hilo Hattie made the world’s largest Aloha shirt in 1999 and this year they have repeated the challenge, making a sixteen foot tall shirt to celebrate the University of Hawaii – exactly why the university should be celebrated this year isn’t clear, but the shirt big and bright and definitely not the kind of thing you should wear in the workplace if you’re hoping for promotion!
One secondary school in England has decided to change its uniform radically, and claims the new look is a hit with pupils and parents. Students at the Cooper School in Churchill Road, Bucks used to wear purple polo-shirts and black trousers or skirts, but the casual top has been changed into a white shirt, tie and a black blazer. To launch the new uniform, the school gave all students a black and blue striped tie along with a sew-on school badge free of charge. Headteacher Ben Baxter said the decision to change uniform had not been taken lightly, and followed consultation with students, parents, governors and staff. ‘The school firmly believes in the maxim of Look smart, Be smart,’ He said ‘We hope the obvious pride the students are showing will express itself in the level of progress in their learning over the coming year.’ One wonders how the parents will feel when the added laundry costs start to factor into the equation …
And in Ireland The Department of Education has recommended that there be no change in how schools decide their uniform policies. New say the current system, which allows schools decide uniform policy at local level, is reasonable and should be maintained. The guidelines were drawn up after disquiet earlier in the year over the wearing of the Hijab by Muslim students. The guidelines say no school uniform policy should act in such a way that it would exclude students of a particular religious background from the school. Commenting on the guidelines, the Minister for Education said while 92% of schools in the country were under the patronage of one religion, that fact had not … excluded pupils of different religions from these schools.
While City executives squirm in the boardroom and have to be bailed out by the treasury, it’s the chavvy, lowly, hoodie and his chippy ladette girlfriend who might possess the superpower that saves retail spending.
Virtually everybody, except a few oil sheiks and barons, is watching their spending and counting their pennies and cents, spending has dropped like a stone down a well, in virtually every area … except one.
J D Sport, oneof the retailer that dresses our teen generation has just reported a 54% RISE in their half-year pre-tax profits. Similar spending is expected to show in other teen havens like H&M and topshop, and across the sporting clothing chains generally.
It seems that 16-19 year olds know what they want: quality sportswear and casual clothing and are still willing to pay for it.Hurrah for the hoodie, whose front pocket might still be deep enough to save the high street from a recession!
You may not even know what clothblocking is, but you do it, we all do.It’s the instantaneous judgement we make about somebody when we first see them and it affects the romantic and job prospects of us all.Here are the top 5 clothing mistakes that cause an employer, or potential girlfriend, to clothblock a bloke:
Designer sunglasses – unless you’re a pimp or a drug dealer.Seriously, the designer sunglasses wearer has passed beyond metrosexual into the twilight territory of Russell Brand and you don’t want to go there, do you?Anyway, it’s the first thing your new squeeze will want to do, get you to ditch your Superdrug £4.99 specials for a decent pair of shades, so give her the chance to make you over by starting at zero. And you should never, ever, ever wear sunglasses to an interview, unless it’s for a post in the industry mentioned at 3.
Denim shorts – these are called jorts in the USA for jean-shorts.Why are they such a clothesblock? Well if you google jorts you’ll find out – at least half the responses will be from gay websites or forums: jorts are just very homosexual and girls don’t respond well to them, even though David Dundas wore them in the jeans advert that led to a number 1 hit single. See 3. again, for the only place you can wear them to an interview.
Crocs – neither bosses nor potential life partners are likely to smile at the sight of crocs, unless you happen to be a fishing boat captain and you’ve only just walked ashore.
Owning nothing but polo-shirts. The problem with this one is that you’ve misled people – your new employer or your new gf both have every right to expect that you own a couple of shirts, and if you don’t written warnings and stormy walkouts will result – basically if you only own T-shirts and polo-shirts, you’re a slob through and through.Buy a shirt … and a tie!
Sleeveless shirts – if ladies with bingo wings put you off, look down. Armpit hair is a total turn off, in the social and the business environment, and waxing your armpits so you can wear sleeveless shirts is just too weird.Short sleeves at a minimum, long sleeves in the office are better still.
Stand bookings for the 2009 Workwear & Corporate Clothing Show organised by are gaining momentum. Compared to last September, stand bookings are up by over 60% and 80% more net space has been sold, showing that this area of British manufacture, trade and retail is on the up.
The 2009 show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC in April 2009 and features a fashion show, sponsored by Russell Europe, a conference, and the Business Manger Awards ceremony which will be hosted by Jeff Banks, famous for his fashion and corporate design. Nominations for the awards have just closed and the list of entrants and judges will be announced shortly.
The associated 2009 Conference will address one of the most important issues facing workwear and corporate garment manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and buyers today: sustainability. It starts on 2nd April and will bring together ten inspiring speakers to present on the three key areas of sustainability: environment, social and economy
