Date: February 9, 2010// 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: Monona Public Library

Healthy Home Fabrics with Karen Powell

As an apparel designer for nearly 30 years, Powell has worked with mills, dyers, and finishers around the world, seeing firsthand how the textile industry releases toxic chemicals into the air and water. Conventionally-produced textiles are processed with chemicals proven to be toxic to flora, fauna, and our food chain. The chemicals remain in the new textile products we bring home, contributing to poor indoor air quality and health problems as they outgas, absorb through our skin, and get ingested or inhaled.

There is some good news. There are growing numbers of fabrics made using certified organic methods and sustainable practices. They greatly reduce chemical use – from field to finished cloth. Although not toxin-free, these fabrics are the smarter choice for improving the health of our homes and the environment.

A few questions for Karen:

Why did you choose to be part of Green Tuesdays?  I’m so impressed with the Green Tuesdays format: a community exchange of information and ideas. They make learning about sustainability fun and interesting. You can contribute in your own way, without judgment or pressure.

What can people learn from your presentation? People will learn how to make greener, healthier textile choices for their home. They will discover there are many eco-alternatives to conventionally produced soft home furnishings such as bedding, kitchen and bath linens, rugs and curtains. They will learn what’s behind a green fiber label, what questions to ask when considering organic and which fabrics are most sustainable.

What is the biggest misconception about fabrics today? There’s a great deal of misconception about Amercian’s most favorite fiber, cotton. Many people assume fabric made of 100% cotton is “pure,” ”natural” and therefore healthy. They don’t realize conventional cotton farming and fabric production uses chemical intensive processes, which are highly toxic to humans and our environment. It requires 1/3 pound of pesticides and fertilizers to grow one pound of raw cotton. It takes just under one pound of cotton to make one T-shirt. And, during the conversion of fiber into cloth, additional hazardous chemicals may be applied: petroleum scours, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde, to name a few. 

Learn more from Karen’s blog: http://www.healthyhomefabrics.com/

Green Tuesdays: Films & Lectures on Sustainability is the enlightening and entertaining series of lectures, films, and conversations on sustainable living brought to you by The Natural Step Monona and the Monona Public Library.

Green Tuesdays are on the second and fifth Tuesdays of the month, September through May. The series is free and open to the public. Green Tuesdays are at the Monona Public Library. They start at 6:30 and run until 8:00, with great conversations often pushing the conclusion a bit past that hour.

Whole Foods serves treats. Attendees are encouraged to come early for delightful food and drink.

Green Tuesdays films are supported by the Dane County Environmental Council.