Investigating the Fast Fashion Crisis Through Old Navy Jeans
In November 2023, Circular Philadelphia’s textiles working group undertook an implosion of Old Navy jeans as a way to investigate the fast fashion system and its impact locally, nationally and globally. The implosion was led by Circular Philadelphia partner Trash Academy and included fashion industry professionals, educators, resale experts, circular economy professionals, collection and sorting experts, Philadelphia residents, activists and scientists. The implosion visual below is the result of that implosion and a year’s worth of follow-on research, vetting and design.
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What is an implosion?
An implosion is a research method developed by professor Donna Haraway of University of California, Santa Cruz. Those who have used this method include educators, researchers, scientists, engineers, systems thinkers, activists who hope to sharpen their analysis of systems of oppression, and many others. Whereas an explosion is where bits of an object gets scattered about into little pieces making it difficult to analyze, an implosion allows a more controlled deconstruction making it easier to see how the object was constructed.
Interested in a teach-in of this implosion?
Contact programs@circularphiladelphia.org for more information