Polyester Vs Cotton

One of the greatest myths is that cotton is cheap, natural and green. Cotton is renewable in that it can be replanted, but it is not grown sustainably. Cotton cultivation accounts for about 10% of all pesticides and 23% of all insecticides used in agriculture. On average 200kg of nitrogen is added to the land for every tonne of cotton picked. 33% of this is lost into the atmosphere, though 98% of this is harmless, the remaining 2% is nitrogen oxide which is a harmful greenhouse gas.

While organic cotton production is exemplary in the way it avoids pesticides, all cotton farming is incredibly water intensive. It is not only needed for growing but for processing and dyeing. So much water is needed that it’s often diverted away from communities. Cotton irrigation is a major contributor in the depletion of the Aral Sea.

Cotton garments waste energy. They require more energy to wash than a polyester one because they must be washed frequently, at high temperatures and generally require tumble-drying and ironing. 60% of the carbon emissions generated by a simple cotton t-shirt comes from washes and machine dryings it will require.

The growth, harvesting, shipping and maintenance of cotton from around the globe means it does more damage to the environment than the factories that produce the artificial fabrics.

In contrast, polyester is 100% recyclable. Polyester garments can be shredded, melted, extruded and woven again. Whilst a polyester garment takes more energy to make, since synthetic fabric comes from materials like wood and oil, the upkeep is far more fuel-efficient, since polyester cleans more easily and dries faster.

Our t-shirt manufacturer Vapor Apparel generates 67.3% of its power from non-fossil fuels by having access to hydro and geo-thermal electricity. In addition they are developing products from eco-friendly yarns using 100% recycled materials, including post-consumer and post-industrial polyester fibres.

Vapor Apparel produce polyester garments of superior quality. They are engineered with built-in moisture management technology and temperature control, making them odour, bacteria, fungi and mildew resistant. They are very light yet extremely durable and boast record drying time. The temperature and moisture control allows the skin to stay cool and dry even during extreme conditions. Stain-resistance makes them easier to clean along with faster drying times, equates to less energy.

Sweatshops

The term “sweatshop” refers to those factories relying on the exploitation and abuse of workers. Sweatshops rely on and promote racism, sexism, classism and many other human rights violations.

Corporations have been moving manufacturing processes from relatively prosperous economies and stable democracies to take advantage of cheap labour and escape government scrutiny and criticism from human rights and workers' rights organisations.

Sweatshop workers face dangerous and exploitative conditions including sub-minimum wages, no benefits, non-payment of wages, forced overtime, sexual harassment, verbal abuse, corporal punishment, and illegal firings. According to the International Labour Organization, nearly 171 million children are engaged in hazardous work, of which 111 million are younger than 15.

The health burdens placed upon sweatshop workers have been extensively documented, and include exposure to noxious fumes, organophosphate compounds, and silica dust, resulting in record high cancer, asthma, bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, and leukaemia rates in many regions because workers aren’t provided with masks and gloves.

As consumers, we should ask ourselves: should corporations really be allowed to shop around the world for the most easily abused workforce and are we going to contribute to it by purchasing their products

I guess it started in 2003. Just after the protests in the major cities of Australia against the invasion of Iraq. I was so inspired by the diversity of people that had turned out. From business people in suits, to single mothers with their children, traditional families, students, queers, immigrants and everybody in between. I felt like I was a part of something. I felt that I would be telling my children one day how we prevented a gross injustice through solidarity. Instead despite 75% of Australians being against it, our government backed the US invasion and Baghdad was demolished.

I felt defeated, deflated and disillusioned. If a democratically elected government could go against the wishes of 75% of its people then we were no longer a democracy and the power of protest all but gone.

What good was our solidarity if it didn't effect change? Did innocent Iraqi's feel consoled by it? I think not.

But I refused to become apathethic. I refused to resign. If you can change the opinion of a single person then in the modern dictaorship that is the free world, surely that is considered a revolution.

brand resistant is an evolution of political passion and humour. Finding the comedy within the tradegdy sustains life.