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.