Blog 1: Lecture Reflection
Blog 1: Lecture Reflection
Throughout the better lives lectures I attended, sustainability was the topic that came up the most, and has never been more relevant than in recent years, especially since the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluting industries in the world. Before these lectures I believed that the responsibility was solely on the producers to produce sustainable fashion, however over the course of the lectures, this way of thinking I had was changed.
In Nick Almond’s lecture’s on Emerging technologies in fashion, we discussed blockchain and how it could be utilised in the fashion industry. Blockchain is a record keeping technology and is commonly used in cryptocurrencies. One block represents one stage of digital information and is linked to the blocks before and after it. Each block is designed to be un-editable, and therefore it keeps an accurate record of data. In relation to fashion, this could be used to store information on fabric, dye and other practices within making the garment. This means that in theory, anyone can walk into a shop, use their mobile phone to scan a QR code on the garment’s fabric label, and see the origin of all of the factors of production, whether they were sourced using sustainable practices, and much more. This makes it much easier for consumers to make sustainable choices when buying the item, making the supply chain and production chain much more transparent.
There are already plans to use blockchain in the fashion industry, however rather than being used to make the industry more transparent, its instead being used as authentication technology. LVMH announced plans to work with Certilogo to introduce scannable QR codes that would authenticate their products using blockchain technology. Although it isn’t the main aim of this introduction of blockchain technology, it will also have sustainable impacts. Firstly, people are more likely to buy used items if it is easy to find that the product is authentic, causing consumption (and therefore production) of new products to decrease. This authentication technology will also mean that the sales of fake products, and therefore the production of fake products, will decrease. Fake products are normally made in un-suitable conditions, using un-sustainable practices.
In the current climate crisis, government intervention may be needed to step in, and to regulate practices to increase sustainability. Governments could implement new laws and regulations on what is and isn’t allowed in production, which can then be tracked through blockchain.
To conclude, in a climate of uncertainty and crisis, blockchain provides a chance for a more transparent and sustainable future, where consumer and producer alike are held responsible for their environmental impact.
The better lives lecture I have attended have helped me see that I also am responsible due to my own personal consumer choices, and to be more thoughtful when purchasing something in the future.
Reiff, N. (2020) Blockchain explained. Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/blockchain.asp (Accessed: 23/03/2020).
Certilogo (2019) Making blockchain real: LVMH and the future of authentic luxury. Available at: https://brands.certilogo.com/hubfs/Downloadable%20Content/Making%20Blockchain%20Real.pdf (Accessed: 23/03/2020).
8th May 2020 @ 2:27 pm
I have chosen to reflect on Callum Baylis’ first blog about the Better Lives lectures. He has focused on the theme sustainability, especially on Nick Almond’s lecture about emerging technologies in fashion and “Blockchains”.
Not having attended this lecture and not being aware about the content, which Callum summarized very well, the blog gave me a good overview about Blockchains and their use in the fashion industry. He wrote about the function of blockchains and their positive and negative aspects: “There are already plans to use blockchain in the fashion industry, however rather than being used to make the industry more transparent, its instead being used as authentication technology.”
The blog was well written, creating a flow which helps reading and understanding the text. He used some personal anecdotes concerning the theme Sustainability stating, “Before these lectures I believed that the responsibility was solely on the producers to produce sustainable fashion, however over the course of the lectures, this way of thinking I had was changed.” This made the reader understand his personal view better, giving an insight on his experience.
The blog made me want to watch the lecture and dig deeper into the subject of emerging technologies in the fashion industry.
In addition, I have been inspired by the enthusiasm Callum has shown throughout his blog to learn about sustainability and act: “The better lives lecture I have attended have helped me see that I also am responsible due to my own personal consumer choices, and to be more thoughtful when purchasing something in the future”.
He only wrote about the theme sustainability, leaving inclusivity and diversity out, but as it is his first blog, for which the briefing was to talk about one or more lectures, I cannot judge the fact that he has mainly talked about sustainability.
So, all in all, well done!