Textile production is dirty dirty dirty -- one of the dirtiest industries in the world in fact. Why? Partly because of the damage that
cotton crops and synthetic fiber production inflicts on the environment, and partly because of seriously outdated manufacturing methods
used to dye and finish fabric.
According to the United States Energy Administration, the textile industry in the U.S. is the 5th largest contributor to CO2 emissions
in the country.
But enough of the depressing stats: As consumers are becoming increasingly aware and clothing manufacturers are stepping up to more
environmental accountability, technology is taking off -- and there has been huge advances.
With New York Fashion Week strutting the catwalks September 6-13, it's a good time to take a closer look: From fabric out of food, beer
bottles and more to dying with air, and web sites that know your exact measurements, these 10 awesome technologies are changing fashion
as we know it.
Milk, tea and coffee tend to stick together...but not like this. As the high-tech sector is taking off in making fashion more
sustainable, other, more-humble, technologies are just as innovative -- and really, really cool. Case in point: Food products being
turned into wearable commodities.
German microbiology-student-turned-designer Anke Domaske uses milk to make a an "Eco Milk Fiber" called QMilch. High-tech sports
clothing company Virus uses recycled coffee beans for their Stay Warm line of cold-weather performance apparel. And the genius Suzanne
Lee, fashion designer and TED Senior Fellow, has been making fabric and vegetable leather out of...get this...the fermented tea,
kombucha. (Pictured above.)
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