GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The glossary below was created by the Behind The Seams Podcast Team to clarify the episode content and inform listeners on the language used throughout the podcast.
BIODEGRADABLE: anything that is capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms
CARBON FOOTPRINT: the measurement of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds that are emitted into the atmosphere due to the consumption of fossil fuels per person, company, country, etc.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY: an industrial economy that thrives on the production and selling of goods that are made from biodegradable or recyclable resources, which therefore do not produce waste or pollution throughout any point in the supply chain and in fact are regenerative in principle
CLIMATE CHANGE: is globally defined as a change in global or regional climate patterns, in particular a change apparent from the mid to late 20th century onwards and attributed largely to the increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels
CLOSED LOOP PRODUCTION: a redesign of production that involves utilizing waste as raw materials in the attempt to minimize pollution so that materials flow cyclically throughout the supply chain; typically coined as "cradle to cradle" production
FASHION: one's chosen skin, the way one chooses to express his/her identity, style as a form of art
LIVING WAGE: a wage that allows laborers to afford the basic necessities to support their health and overall well-being
NATURAL FIBERS: fibers derived from plants or animals and utilized in the production of textiles, examples include cotton, hemp, flax, silk, wool, and mohair among others
ORGANIC FIBERS: fibers that are cultivated without genetic modification, the use of toxic pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, and adhere to set organic standards
PRIMARY MARKET: the area of the market that is dominated by retailers selling newly produced merchandise
RECYCLING: when waste is converted into reusable material
REGENERATED CELLULOSICS: natural materials such as wood or leaf pulp manufactured using chemicals to create materials that are a subset of synthetic fibers, such as rayon, bamboo or lyocell
SECONDARY MARKET: the area of the market that shoppers utilize to purchase second-hand or previously owned goods, an outlet used to refrain from shopping the primary market
SUSTAINABLE: the use of natural resources that can be maintained and perpetuated at a certain rate, that does not exceed the ability to replenish nor prevent future generations from accessing the same benefits
SUPPLY CHAIN: the sequential process of development, production, distribution and sale of a product
SYNTHETIC FIBERS: manufactured fibers from polymer-based chemicals such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, acetate, elastane, etc.
TEXTILE RECYCLING: the disposal of unwanted and/or used textiles through the reuse or repurposing of them, to minimize their presence in toxic landfills
THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE: a business's commitment to achieving an economic profit that also reflects the proper and ethical treatment of the environment and associated peoples
UNION: is defined as an organized group of workers who collectively use their strength to have a voice in their workplace; through a union, workers have a right to impact wages, work hours, benefits, workplace health and safety, job training and other work-related issues
DOCUMENTARIES & FILMS
Below are some of the films and documentaries that inspired the creation of the Behind The Seams Podcast.
BOOKS
Below are some of the books that informed ideas and aided the structure of the Behind The Seams Podcast.
A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion by Alison Gwilt
Podcast Launch by John Lee Dumas
Sustainable Fashion And Textiles: Design Journeys by Kate Fletcher
Social Responsibility in the Global Apparel Industry by Marsha A. Dickson, Suzanne Loker and Molly Eckman
The Designer's Atlas of Sustainability: Charting the Conceptual Landscape through Economy, Ecology and Culture by Ann Thorpe
ORGANIZATIONS & MOVEMENTS
Click on an organization or movement below to learn more about the momentum building in sustainability fashion.
Rainforest Action Network - Out of Fashion
Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP)
BRANDS
Click on a brand below to visit their website and learn more about their commitments to sustainability.