Author: Ji Hwan Shin

I thought that this reading was quite helpful in our group’s research which coincided with the topic of sustainability and technology. Scaturro starts off her paper by giving a brief overview of the different technological developments that have dramatically changed the fashion industry. From the invention of synthetic dyes and fibers to wearable technology, the scope of technological implementation in the world of fashion seems endless. However, Scaturro was focusing her research mostly towards the adverse effects of current practices and how the democratization of technology can address the need for sustainability. 

For the trend towards eco-tech fashion, in which sustainable and democratic technological developments are implemented to improve the fashion industry, Scaturro introduces some case studies. I thought it was interesting how the rise of genetically modified fibers like cotton yields just about the same results as organically grown ones and how this cannot address the need for greater volumes in production to accommodate the growing world population. Also seeing how the manufacturing of biological plant fibers pollute the environment just as much as rayon got me thinking about what really is the best way for garment factories to produce products responsibly.

Scaturro ends her piece by addressing the great potential of digital media in changing people’s mindset about the democratization of technology and how opening up information can lead to change. Especially when most of these technological innovations are proprietary, smaller companies don’t have access to them, causing adaptation to be virtually impossible. I believe that by uprooting the top-down hierarchy of profit focused technology, we can achieve desired results from eco-tech fashion.

Alice Payne discusses about the different ways the fashion industry in Australia has been implementing sustainable innovations to extend garments’ life-cycle and promote more environmentally friendly trends in the long run. She explains this by discussing how sustainability can be addressed in every aspect of the life-cycle of clothes. From textile production to retail, there are several ways companies can be responsible in dealing with the extraction of natural resources and disposing of products.

What makes me interested the most is the retail aspect of the product life-cycle because I previously believed that companies strived to implement eco-friendly policies during the manufacturing process. But seeing how Target in Australia encourages people to wash their clothes in cold water and let them air dry shows how even during the consumption stage, people can learn how to extend the wear of their clothes. In Uniqlo, customers who purchase over a certain limit can get free tailoring at the store. This shows how companies are focusing on customization to induce customers to take good care of their clothes. I also like the example of Levi’s and H&M discontinuing the practice of sand blasting because of the toxic waste generated from making worn out looking jeans. 

Innovation of course is the surest way of achieving futures goals toward sustainability. ‘Designing light’ to reduce transportation costs, making odor repelling clothing, and ingenious methods of weaving all help to lessen the negative externalities of mass production. I think if more companies implement the cradle to cradle (C2C) model and foster designers who seek to innovate ways of producing textiles can significantly change the direction of fast fashion. Slowing down the methods held for hundreds of years isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We can actually develop new ways of efficiently reforming manufacturing processes.

The authors of this piece are defending short-term ethnographic research by detailing the many aspects that make it stand out amongst more traditional ways of doing ethnographic research. They state that many scholars criticize short-term ethnographic research for being too superficial and that it does not account for every layered aspect of people and cultures. However, I believe that they did a great job in explaining why the method is not inferior and why it is being used widely to address contemporary issues.

I’ve always believed that long term ethnographic research and observation are crucial in determining or addressing issues related to culture and humanity because of how intersectional and contextualized these issues can be. Especially when presenting quantitative data, there are risks related to how accurate and non-partisan the outcome can be. However, the authors argue that short-term research can actually be intensive and provide more embodied experience of participants because of scholars’ intervention in observations. The writers also bring up the benefit of not having to seek apprenticeship when observing highly technical fields of study. Rather, they believe that having detail oriented observations can lead to an alternative conclusion. With the usage of social media and the internet, the writers also state that a long lasting relationship can be formed and maintained throughout the study and beyond.

Clearly, all the points provided above show how effective short-term ethnographic research can be. But I am not convinced that they will replace pre-existing methods of long-term research. While having intensive observations can be a source of more in depth experiences, the possibility of participants willing to form such bonds is uncertain. It can rather go the opposite direction and seem too intrusive for the study subjects. Also, there is the possibility that participatory observations can have more bias. Clearly, the inaccuracies and partiality of short-term research are inevitable but combining these two methods in ethnographic research can bring about interesting findings. But overall, I think that the authors did a great job in presenting their arguments for why short-term ethnographic research is on the rise and why people shouldn’t overlook its potential to bring different perspective to research.