In her text, Sarah Scaturro argues for the concept of eco-tech. “Balancing the dismay regarding the role current technologies play in the fast fashion system is an alternate belief that the right technologies, when selectively developed and applied, can play an integral role in the growth of sustainable fashion. This concept is best called eco-tech fashion, and is an idea that insists upon the emergence of a sustainable fashion system through an innovative technological framework containing thoughtful manufacturing processes and consumption patterns.” The concept of eco-tech seems like a good approach to unsustainable practices, because even though many such practices cause environmental problems, we cannot deny that we live in a technological age. Therefore, a combination of advancing technology and changing individuals’ awareness about sustainable fashion could be an effective strategy for fashion sustainability.
When discussing the sustainability of biologically-derived fibers, Scatturo argues, “These biologically derived fibers could play a significant role in the creation of a truly sustainable fashion system, but technology must be precisely applied to limit pollution and energy expenditures, while the manufacturing processes must become open source and accessible rather than remain proprietary.” The author argues that while we need to move away from highly toxic and polluting synthetic fibers, many of the natural fibers created toady use an exorbitant amount of energy, and so are not as sustainable as one might think. I found this discussion relevant to my own life, because I have made purchasing decisions in the past, such as the purchasing of bamboo toothbrushes, with the thought that the material I was buying was more sustainable. Through Scatturo’s article, it is clear that while biologically-derived fibers and products should be the future of sustainability, the energy and material sustainability in the making of these products also needs to be addressed.