Introduction to Eco-Design (01:05)

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The rise of the green consumer has put pressure on retailers to reduce the environmental impact of their products. ADD

Eco-Design: Choosing Raw Materials (02:43)

Finisterre, an eco-brand, designs and manufactures clothes that reflect concern for the environment. Finisterre's design director Tom Podkolinski is on the continual lookout for new materials that have ever-lower environmental impact.

Eco-Friendly Wool (02:28)

Wool is an eco-friendly performance material and an alternative to man-made fibers. Finisterre uses a very fine grade of wool for its clothing products, wool that had only been available in New Zealand and Australia. A type of sheep in the UK can now source Finisterre's high-grade wool.

Cotton Fibers (01:03)

Finisterre only buys organic cotton and rejects cotton from farmers who use pesticides or genetically modified cotton seed.

Search for Eco-Friendly Materials (03:35)

Viewers see how knitted fabric is woven. In this factory there is a continual process of looking for ways to reduce environment impact. When Finisterre's Tom Podkolinski finds materials he likes, he seeks to get them in an environmentally-friendly form.

Recycled Materials and Evaluation Criteria (04:36)

For maximum warmth and minimum weight, Finisterre uses recycled material from Japan. Evaluation criteria include natural, man-made, recycled oil, pesticides, irrigation, organic, transportation, anti-microbial, waterproofing, brushing, biodegradability, and other properties.

Eco-Design: Dyeing and Finishing (04:51)

Nearly every piece of fabric in the marketplace has been dyed and finished. Eco-designers reduce environmental impacts of their garments by considering waste management, chemicals, and dyes. Viewers visit an eco-friendly textile factory in Portugal.

Reduction of Environmental Impact (02:23)

By using factories that have to stick to strict environmental standards, avoiding harmful dyes, and sourcing alternative finishes, Finisterre reduces environmental impact of their product manufacturing.

Eco-Design: Life-Cycle Design (01:47)

Eco-design reduces the amount of textile going to landfills by selecting better quality materials, improving designs, rigorous testing, and repair-ability. The world of fashion has a different philosophy than the world of eco-design.

Fabric Testing (02:26)

Fabric chosen for a particular design must be tested to make sure it meets strict performance standards. Viewers observe durability and color fastness tests. Eco-designers look for fabric that can be washed in lower temperatures.

Design Improvement (01:54)

Rather than continuing to design new products, eco-designers work to improve existing designs. Consumers provide suggestions that designers take into account when making improvements. Designers study the improved prototype.

Real-Life Testing of Eco-Designs (02:08)

Real-life testing of garments measures their durability, function, comfort, and more. In this segment, men wear gear for boating and surfing. Eco-design can extend a garment's lifetime by making it repairable.

Credits: Eco-Design: Ethical Textiles (00:27)

Credits: Eco-Design: Ethical Textiles