Overview
For this week's hands-on assignment, you'll be logging into the Worldy/Sustainable Apparel Coalition's "HIGG" index. This is a popular "real world" database that is used in the Fashion Industry to gauge various sustability factors. Since we are discussing materials this week, we'll be using the Materials Sustainability Index (Higg/MSI) part of the database. You'll follow my directions and use my credentials to log in to the free educational version of HIGG (now branded as "Worldly").
Imagine that at your "Company", you've been charged with researching and recommending more sustainable and renewable materials to your design team. Each student should pick ONE material below (please check the DB first and pick one that has been chosen less by other students!), and then two "better" alternatives. Here are the details:
Step One: Log into my Wordly/Higg account
- https://app.worldly.io/user-registration/loginLinks to an external site.
- username: [email protected] pw: Paris2019!
Step Two: Scroll to Right side and Select "Materials Sustainability Index". After you click on it, you will be here:
Step Three: Pick one of the textiles or leather/leather alternative materials.
In the example below, I've picked "Cotton" (conventional, if it dosen't say 'organic'). Make sure you click on the '+' sign to get a more detailed view. If you don't see the '+' sign on the far right, try reducing your browser view.
Ideas for materials to make better (there are more, but these are some to start with - there are about 30 textiles and leathers listed in the MSI)
- Cotton (conventional)
- Cotton (organic) - think here about ways to certify your organic cotton.
- Rayon
- Polyester
- Faux or "Vegan" leather (petroleum-based)
- Lycra
- Elastane
- Nylon
- Cow leather
Step Four: Find your chosen material.
Take a screenshot of what the MSI says about your chosen material. You will post this to the DB. Make sure to get the detailed view for the five elements that a material is measured on by Higg - Global Warming, EutrophicationLinks to an external site., Water Scarcity, Fossil Fuels/Resource Depletion, and Chemistry:
Step Five: Find and Research two other alternatives for your chosen material that have better outputs.
For example, lower water scarcity (!). Take a screenshot of these, too to post to the DB:
Step Six: Research what the criteria terms at the top mean.For example, some criteria, are 'good' with high numbers; others with low numbers (more common).
Step Seven: Log-out of Worldly (important!)
Step Eight: Post your original material and two alternatives (3 screenshots) to the DB and explain your findings!
NOTE: This is the exact same assignment as your HW, so OK to upload the same thing, but please do not attach a Word file to the DB.
More useful information:
Higg MSI Glossary of sustainability terms
https://howtohigg.org/higg-msi/higg-msi-glossary/Links to an external site.
About the Higg Materials Sustainability Index