Textile Insight

November/December 2022

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Designing for the Metaverse A study from Parsons School of Design and gaming giant Roblox makes a case that Metaverse fashion is fast becoming fashionable, and if Gen Z has anything to say about it, the future of fashion is digital, with designers coding, not sewing. According to the 2022 Metaverse Fashion Trends report, during 2022, over 11.5 million creators designed more than 62 million clothing and accessory items on Roblox, a 25 percent increase from the previous year. And, based on this recent activity, there are about 200 times as many creators designing clothing and accessories on Roblox as there are fashion designers creating collections in the U.S; it's estimated that there are about 30,000 to 40,000 designers employed in the States. e multifaceted partnership includes a Spring semester course available to Parsons students on what's next in digital product design. Whether viewed as a flash-in- the-pan trend or a powerful force, the metaverse is having an impact. n Goodwill Doing Good Goodwill was ahead of its time. e organization was estab- lished 120 years ago based on a business model of collecting, sorting and sales of donated goods to keep things out of landfill. Textiles continue to play a large role in Goodwill's efforts today. "ere is a lot of work going on in recycling innovation and upcycling and that whole area of trying to understand how to extend the life of the material that flows through our many stores," said Brittany Dickinson, manager of sustainability at Goodwill Industries International during a Blue Cast by Tencel podcast. A couple of local level projects lead the way: e London, Ontario, Goodwill location launched a clothing line called WORTH made entirely of upcycled tex- tiles that have gone through Goodwill retail channels; and a Goodwill location in South Florida is doing a "repair" study repurposing legacy military uni- forms. According to Dickinson, Goodwill recently received a grant from Walmart Foundation focused textile recycling projects to position Goodwill as a pro- vider of feedstock. n Old is New Once Again In the spirit of the times, brands are increasingly showcasing iconic pieces from decades past. Wrangler has released a Reissue Collection, consisting of a handful of classic designs tied to defining moments in the denim company's history as part of a year-long celebration of the brand's 75-year history. "e Wrangler back patch and stitched W's have made their mark in history and signify our legacy of crasmanship," said Vivian Rivetti, Wrangler's global VP design. Signature design ele- ments resonate with consumers keen on products that connect the past with the present cultur- ally. For example, key aspects of Wrangler's storytelling around its new Reissue Collection are workmanship and longevity, which just so happen to be current talking points around sustainability and circularity. e staying power of cowboy western looks also carry an archival attitude. e Reissue Selvedge Jacket is a replica of the 24MJZ jacket intro- duced in the early 60's and made from the last remnants of denim for the White Oak plant of Cones Mills. n Knock on Wood – Responsibly A new standard on responsible wood sourcing is taking shape as more furniture retailers move faster toward environmentally aware practices. at was the takeaway from a recent webinar that highlighted the release of the 2022 Wood Furniture Scorecard, a joint initiative by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Sustainable Furnishings Council (SFC) that assesses domestic furniture retailers on sourcing policies. e Scorecard features retailers that are highly engaged in demonstrating a willingness to help protect forests. Urban Natural Home topped the 2022 list with a score of 31 out of 35 points. e methodology of the Wood Furniture Scorecard focuses on information available on company websites and public records in addition to comprehensive individual outreach by the Scoring Committee to each scored retailer. Accurate managing and measuring of data is key to corporate responsibility. e Scorecard exemplifies how the furnishings sector is advancing its journey to sustainability. n Hot Topics The Latest Buzz on the Metaverse, Upcycling and Ethical Wood Sourcing. By Emily Walzer IN THE MARKET / 2022 BUZZ 6 • Textile Insight ~ November/December 2022 textileinsight.com

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