Art + Design (a group effort)

Everything nowadays seems to be about going green. Wherever I turn- television, classroom/classmates, internet, fashion, there are always something related towards helping the environment and development to preserve them. From small designers to the larger ones, corporations are now joining the green movement. At first, it all seemed like a gimmick; all the eco-friendly, organic products were more costly compared to our everyday products. However, when investigating further into the matter, it is all a matter of a better, safer, more efficient for us and our future.

The boundaries between Art and Design are often times not clear. There are designers who put products out globally, that are unnecessary and wasteful, misleading consumers with false incentives and purpose.

However, there are the other designers who really do care. They believe and find passion towards the ever-changing environment and fights for us to live in a more sustainable society. They are constantly striving for efficient and environmentally-focused ways of producing goods. Using these materials that scientists and engineers produce, they are making good use of those developed materials, incorporating them directly into their designs.

It isn’t only designers and artists who have to and are making the effort. In order for any of these eco-friendly designs and ideas to get implemented, society as a whole must tackle this problem together. Our communities have to take necessary steps to conserve, preserve, and recycle to prevent any further catastrophes related to our natural environment.

Our society today is being challenged by eco-friendly promoters through the means of public awareness and marketing strategies. They share and embed a sense of self gratification by preserving our environment. Consumers are beginning to become more conscious and aware of the need to change. They are now purchasing recycled products, organic goods, and walking away from companies that do not provide an environmentally centered incentive. Not everyone knows though. That is why we have to strive to notify people about the difference they are making.

Even the design process derived from personal exploration of the sensual possibilities of materials and aesthetics, with no user group analysis involved should consider the environment. Designers itching to scratch a design problem or questions for personal investigations should still be aware of good and bad design and should be consciously aware of the zero waste or added waste they are contributing to.

Fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, Oscar de la Renta, as well as numerous other designers are going green. They are turning to organic fabrics and bamboo for their designs. Not only are these couture designers going green, more affordable companies such as levis and H&M created organic lines for their company. By using organic cottons designers are helping the environment and fellow human beings.

Inorganic cottons are only 2.5% of land, but uses 10% of pesticides and 22% of insecticides. These toxins pollute soil and water that lead to the death wildlife. It also kills 20,000 cotton works per year.

Growing organic cotton is 20 cents more to produce, therefore more expensive in the market. When people purchase organic clothes and products, do they know how much they are helping? They probably don’t. If people knew the animals and lives they were saving, don’t you think they would think twice about purchasing the inorganic cotton tee vs. the organic cotton tee?
While browsing blogs last week, I came to read one about recycled denim. I participated in the 20% off jeans if you brought in old, unused denim, but also didn’t know why and where this denim was going. I was pleased to find out that the denim was being recycled and made into house insulation- a major problem in homes.


Land footprint: which is the amount of cropland needed to produce a given quantity of cotton taking into consideration differences in productivity of cropland in various regions and long term impacts on soil resources from various cotton growing methods.
Water footprint: which measures the acre-feet of irrigation water needed to grow crops and the amount of water needed to dilute toxic concentrations of chemicals to safe levels.
Carbon footprint: which measures the area needed to sequester carbon emissions associated with planting, maintaining, and harvesting, irrigation, production of chemical inputs, and disposal of wastes.

Growers Fibers Footprint Calculator

















Buyers Fiber Footprint Calculator



















By a house being properly insulated, they can reduce energy costs. Good insulation will retain desirable temperatures more a longer duration of time. By using blue jean insulation you are putting yourself out of danger from carcinogens and high costs.

Maybe this could help the town of Levittown. Levittown is the country’s first planned suburb. They are striving to become the first suburban community to go green. Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi launched a green campaign. It encourages everyone (17,000 homes, 52,000 people) to do a small portion. It could be from changing light bulbs to installing a new furnace to getting proper insulation. Most people in the community are taking action, but because of economic struggles many are postponing these tasks.