I have recently completed a Contextual Studies module as part of my Foundation Degree; the subject was based around Sustainable Fashion. There was a lot of sub-topics within the 'sustainabilty' of fashion; including Globalization, 'Fast Fashion', Etical Trading, and Ecological and Enviromental impacts and concerns, etc. I decided to focus on the aspects of globalization and fast fashion and how they have affected the British manufacturing industries.
As well as reading articles and researching to gain inspiration and knowledge to help me produce an essay on the subject; I found not only one but two useful documentaries broadcasted on Channel 4; the first being Gok Wan: Made in China.
The documentary saw Gok Wan travel across China to explore the unseen world of Chinese mass production and meet the people working in the factories that supply the west; incuding us the UK. He visited 'Jeans Town', a place where everything revolves around the manufacture of denim jeans. Here he saw how quickly and effeciently the Chinese factory workers produce mass amounts of garments. It was also evident that free speech was not a thing the workers could express; suggesting their employers may not want outsiders to know what life is really like working as a Chinese manufacturer.
In addition to visiting various manufacturing companies and factories; Gok Wan also visited the village in which his father grew up and learnt more about his ancestors and his heritage.
If you missed it; you can learn more or watch at:
The second inspiring Fashion documentary on Channel 4 is Mary's Bottom Line. In this series Mary Portas attempts to 'kick start' the British manufacturing industry by creating a company that manufactures British made knickers. The programme follows Mary Portas on her journey as she hires experienced seamstresses to train up her new workforce of hand picked apprentices to work in an old, disused factory. She also struggles to source British fabrics to work with and searches for one of the last remaining Brithish lace manufacturers; to produce truly British pairs of knickers -Made in Britain.
The programme also had alot of interesting statistics and was quite informative; providing me with plenty of points of inspiration and interest to include within my essay. Although I have completed my essay and the Contextual Studies module; I will definately continue to watch this inspiring programme and hope that Mary Portas succeeds in her mission to kick start the British manufacturing industry. I also hope that people will be proud of a British manufactured product and hopefully more people will buy into the future of a revived British manufacturing industry.
Catch up on the series at:
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