¿It can be the bright and sustainable future at the same time? Sequins and reflect on their environmental impact, ¡and also I discover two possible solutions!
Ensure the environment is not a moda nor a passing proposal, ¡It is a must! We must develop a new ecological consciousness in which we rethink almost every aspect of our lives and habits change by less harm to our environment. Por supuesto, ¡fashion and beauty is one of those areas under debate!
Every time we care more to reduce our environmental impact, y They have already been implemented more ecological processes or cotton jeans. ¡But we also have to evaluate when we go out partying! ¿Do not you think?
Since a time ago you already have awareness about how harmful the use of glitter is (even to debated about whether to ban), both textiles and makeup. This has been remedied, but has not yet been sufficiently discussed on other tissue is also harmful, ¡sequins!
¿What are they «really» sequins?
According to Wikipedia «Sequins are small shiny plates, Lentil generally shaped or circular, used for decorative purposes«.
This is the canonical definition but go beyond, You need to be aware that is a tissue composed of small pieces of polyvinylchloride (PVC) polyethylene (PET) derivatives that are more versatile plastic.
Plastic sequins do not biodegrade easily. When they decompose, become microplastics that you know that are harmful to all forms of life. Many of them can also end up in the oceans where marine life mistaken for food.
Although they seem very current, will shock you to learn that Sequins back to the era of King Tut, who lived from 1341 a 1323 BC. ¡De hecho, when Tutankhamen's tomb was opened were found in different dresses with gold sequins! Formerly they were made of metal ¡imagine how much a garment could weigh! (as an example we can think of a chainmail) Pero with the industrial revolution and the growth of plastics applications was imposed perform with this material by lower weight and easy malleability.
¿But this is for so much?
And it may seem a blip or circumstantial because, ¡there are not so many sequin products to harm the environment! ¿No? For though it does not seem, ¡yes there are!, por ejemplo, The Guardian, fashion giant ASOS – that serves the whole world through its website – currently it has more than 1.500 items tagged under the search term «lentejuelas«. Imagine if we multiply that by all brands in the world. ¡And this number increases enormously in the autumn season – winter to coincide with the Christmas holidays, the right time to put a look stunning!
The problem lies not only in the amount of plastic needed to make all these products – a normal dress can have between 2.000 y 5.000 sequins but there are complex designs that can contain up 50.000 – but also in the little recycling to do the same tissue. Right now there are no options available for recycling all the sequins or make them disappear so biodegradable.
Spangles and environment, between ethics and the party…
We all love a lentejuerío, la verdad, the movement and joy that this fabric brings to any look – especially at night with the reflection of the lights – the holidays make us happy. But we must find ways to continue enjoying this without harming the environment. «I love a bright dress, but cover a plastic dress can not be justified if used once and discarded«, dice Natalie Fee, founder City to Sea and activist plastic pollution.
There may soon not choose between these two options since it already there are technological innovations for more environmentally friendly environmentally sequins. These new ecological pailletes represent a significant leap in reducing plastic.
The first step: recycled sequins
«The future can be sustainable and bright» explica Rachel Clowes, founder Sustainable Sequin Company. Se trata de a company that manufactures recycled PET sequins. He born as a final project of Rachel, MA Fashion Futures studying at the London College of Fashion. His idea has grown into a small company that offers a future for «sequins«. It is an alternative to the current linear model of production sequins, which it is polluting and unsustainable, and so it is done with traditional processes.
The recycled Sequins Sequin Sustainable Company 
Application of recycled sequins
The Sustainable Sequin Company shows how, through the creation of new recycled materials and new manufacturing methods can achieve a more sustainable future. New formats for application and use of recycled sequins can make a significant change in the field of fashion getting a strong impact and giving each day a further step towards the fashion conscious.
And it seems that is an idea long haul linking sequins and environment because, in the words of its founder, «I've had growing interest from fashion companies interested in reducing their environmental impact».
The future: no plastic sequins
Recently the website specialized in discovering trends, Sprinwise, published an article that spread work Elissa Brunato, a Swedish designer who has developed an environmentally friendly plastic sequin with nothing but with all the glitz that defined.
Unlike conventional sequin, biodegradable Brunato sequins are made of cellulose . They developed material using cellulose-based parts of the tree wood, searching the grain structure with a natural polymer that reflects light. according to Brunato: «The color is the result of the nanostructure of the material itself, so no chemicals or dyes are added to create the bright colorful effect».
Elissa green sequined Brunato 
Biodegradable sample sequins 
Application of ecological sequins 
biodegradable iridescent sequin
The resulting green sequins are strong enough to sew on garments, but completely biodegrade when discarded. This material could also help fashion companies to develop a more circular economy for clothes, reusing or recycling all materials. And also confirms the creative itself, It is already working with several European designers for their fashion lines more sustainable.
Sources: The Guardian y SpringWise.
Excuse me. In the Patagonian foothills and southern Rio Negro line, in this blessed Argentina, many Mapuche communities, Yessss, originators whom Europe always deprived as in all America ( Spain has a lot to do), they live on their goats' pineapples , of hair and meat production. It is impossible to mistreat the noble goats that give them sustenance since there are no other productive possibilities because they are arid zones. Por lo tanto, they are congratulating each other for stupid things that they generate in the comfort of their urban cages and with their ass resting on a chair in front of the computer. Each one of you attempts more against the environment by expending energy, eating junk because the vegetables they buy in the cities have mostly agrochemicals, and spending more energy with appliances and appliances. Excuse the sincerity. To get to cacique, you have to be indian first. Greetings and stop lying. If animals are not sheared, more synthetic fiber will be used, more spending on oil that you have to import., a little common sense just.
What an interesting post! I had never stopped to think about the impact of sequins on the environment…
My mother as we refine… bravo by the lord of the yellow glasses
Makes rethink many things missing! (Even the glow!) Thanks!