Global warming affecting fashion industry

Global warming affecting fashion industry Global Warming Affecting Fashion Industry According to an interesting article in Australias The Age, global warming is wreaking havoc on the clothing industry. In many parts of the world, there just isnt as much difference between the seasons anymore and overall the trend is towards warmer weather. The clothing industry relies on delineated seasons to sell different types of apparel. But if you can wear flip flops all year long (and not just in Southern California), clothing sales will drop. Warmer weather also affects the type of fabrics designers use and the styling. It is forcing fashion houses to ditch traditional seasonal collections for transeasonal garments that may lead to a drastic overhaul of fashion show schedules and retail delivery dates. The whole fashion system will have to change, Beppe Modenese, founder of Milan Fashion Week, told The New York Times last week. The fashion system must adapt to the reality that there is no strong difference between summer and winter any more You cant have everyone showing four times a year to present the same thing. People are not prepared to invest in these clothes that, from one season to the other, use the same fabrics at the same weight. Mr Modeneses comments came as New York fashion retailers blamed a prolonged Indian summer for poor autumn sales. Who needs a woollen pea coat when it is 30 degrees-plus? So worried are some fashion houses about the impact climate change is having on the way we dress and shop, they are calling in the climate experts. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that American retail giant Liz Claiborne Inc had enlisted a New York climatologist to speak to 30 of its executives on topics ranging from the types of fabrics they should be using to the timing of retail deliveries and seasonal markdowns. Other US fashion retailer giants, including Target and Kohls, have also started using climate experts to plan their collections and schedule end-of-season sales. And from January, Target will sell swimwear year-round. Closer to home, fashion designers say they are increasingly designing transeasonal collections using lighter- weight fabrics for a more temperate climate and readjusting their in-store delivery dates in line with the unpredictable seasons. Theres really no such thing as defined autumn/winter and spring/summer collections any more, says Margaret Porritt, of Melbourne fashion label Feathers. A lot of my garments are more transeasonal and rather than dropping them into store twice a year like I used to, I tend to move things in and out of store every couple of weeks, depending on the weather. Things were different when she started the business 35 years ago. Back then winter went into store in mid-January and summer in mid-June and that was it. There was nothing in between. I also used a lot more heavier wools and made great big heavy coats. I cant do that anymore; it just doesnt get cold enough, even here in Melbourne. They just dont sell. Its true that we dont buy as much heavy winter clothing as we used to, now that we think about it. And our boot purchases have also tapered off, which is a shame since we adore boots. But unlike Mary-Kate Olsen, we just cant wear sweaters, coats and boots on an 80 degree day. We adore winter clothes: cashmere sweaters, fabulous boots, wonderful hats and a gorgeous coat all make an appearance after the first frost. The thought of living year round in shorts is appalling to us. We may have to consider moving north in the future. Wednesday, February 07, 2007 10:51 posted by BlogMeister Anxiety, Addiction and Depression Treatments American Fashion Industry Issues, Fails to Enforce Health Guidelines New Yorks February fashion week is one of the industrys most lavish, celebrated events. Amid the lights, parties and big names, it would seem to be very easy to forget the issue that has wracked fashion for the past year: the increasing prevalence of eating disorders among models and the young women they influence. Where Spains Association of Fashion Designers passed a ruling to forbid the participation of models with BMIs lower than 18 (the World Health Organization states that 18.5 or below is underweight) and asserted that display clothes be no smaller than size 8 (the average American woman wears size 14), the Council of Fashion Designers of America issued a statement containing general guidelines but no plans for direct enforcement. Among their suggestions: There should be no models under 16 and no work after midnight for models 18 and younger; the consumption of cigarettes and alcohol on location should be forbidden; statements on the early signs of eating disorders should be officially issued to those in the industry; models identified as suffering from eating disorders should be required to receive professional help; the industry should develop workshops designed to address the impact of eating disorders and the negative effects of smoking; organizers should provide healthy snacks backstage during shows. Glaringly absent from this list are any mentions of body mass or plans for enforcing the guidelines proposed within. While designer-sponsored press releases and conferences convey some degree of responsibility on the industrys behalf, they ultimately amount to little beyond empty attempts to satiate the publics desire for some form of regulation. Designers attempt to shift blame to the modeling agencies themselves which, they argue, serve as the mother(s) of the models. The idea that these agencies should control the eating habits of their models while designers continue to showcase remarkably small clothing is difficult to rationalize. In another flaccid attempt to deflect criticism, the organizations executive director claims that A lot of the girls who work the runway are genetically thin. You go backstage and you see a lot of girls eating a lot of food and theyre not gaining weight. Statements like these strain credibility, and many eating disorder advocates are not satisfied wi th the measures taken thus far, believing that PR campaigns and suggested guidelines constitute an insufficient response to a very serious problem. In a society where more than 80% of ten-year old girls describe a fear of getting fat and one in two fourth graders are currently on some kind of diet, those who are even indirectly responsible for shaping the popular conception of beauty and body image need to reassess their own principles. After viewing photos of fashion models, 70% of young women described themselves as angrier and more depressed than they had been before. In surveys, three out of four women listed an ideal size at least 10% underweight. And despite the presence of eating disorders and body image issues across the social spectrum, most insurance companies hesitate to approve treatment for these conditions, essentially making the argument that the issue is not a matter of diagnosable disease but a faulty sense of self-control. Designers, advertisers and models themselves argue that they have no control over the state of their industry and the ideals it projects they simply go along with whatever sells at the time . Who, then, is responsible, if not the producers of the very images that encourage the epidemic? PR campaigns aside, consumers and public health advocates cannot tolerate this continued reassignment of blame. The fashion industry must own up to its pivotal role in the eating disorder debate and strictly enforce regulations designed to promote healthier, more realistic lifestyles. Category: Diet , Aging and Eating Disorders

Pop Culture Archetype Comparison

The archetype of the villain is seen in many Disney fairytales and are usually one of the most important characters in the films. Shan Yu from Mulan and Scar from The Lion King although are from different backgrounds and different plots both display the same characteristics and thought processes. SIMILARITY 1-The primary similarity between Shan Yu and Scar is that they both will stop at nothing in order to conquer the land and power that they think they deserve. This is seen in Mulan, where Shan-Yu feels no hesitation when it comes to taking a life. He kills without remorse, for his own amusement. This is demonstrated when he asks â€Å"How many men does it take to deliver a message? † to which one of his henchmen replies â€Å"one† as he aims his arrow at one of two Chinese spies. This is also seen in The Lion King. Scar the evil brother of Mufasa will do anything to become King of the Pride Lands, even if it means killing his brother and his nephew Simba. Although he only succeeds in murdering Mufasa, he convinces his nephew that it was his fault, leaving Simba to live with the guilt of his father’s death and tells the cub to ‘run far away, Simba, and never come back’. SIMILARITY 2-The second similarity between Shan Yu and Scar is their similar deaths, in which the hero takes part in taking down the villain. Shan Yu gets thrown off a building by Mulan and Scar is pushed off a cliff by Simba. CONCLUSION- Therefore both characters are seen as the classic archetype villain and have many similarities such as their lust for superiority and power. However, while both characters have many similarities between them they also demonstrate some differences as well. DIFFERENCE 1- A major difference between the two characters is that Shan Yu is a Mongolian leader of the huns whereas Scar is a lion from Africa. Although Scar is not a human being, the character still demonstrates the same desire to conquer the land. DIFFERENCE 2- The second difference between Shan Yu and Scar is the means in which Scar grew up, for example growing up Scar’s father spent more time and attention on his other son Mufasa. This ultimately leads to Scar hating his brother and constantly seeking revenge against him. While, for Shan Yu, growing up because of his cultural and political background he has always hated the Chinese and wanted to take them down. However, the two characters both attempt to conquer and take down their opposing forces whether it is their family or political enemies. Relevance- The significance of the archetype of the villain in both films is that they essentially help the main character, the hero to complete a quest or journey of finding who they really are. In Mulan, if it were not because of Shan Yu and the threat of the war, then she would have never had to change her lifestyle or leave her family behind. This would not have made her the person she became towards the end of the film. The same goes for Simba, if it were not for Scar telling him his father had died and there was nothing left for him there, furthermore he was able to see how others lived and decide that he wanted to rule. Conclusion- In conclusion, while both characters are archetypes of the classic villain. They both demonstrate the same ideals and desires to be achieve total control and superiority over the people around them.

Modern day diseases

There is something almost contradictory around the idea of man-made diseases. It could easily create images of mad scientists or evil terrorists creating the ultimate In biological weaponry. At this point the conspiracy theorist In all of us starts to wonder about the origin of any number of diseases and we look over our shoulders cautiously to see if Big Brother is standing there. However, between the conspiracies and the terror campaigns is a fascinating list of diseases that could fit the criteria.Within these there has to be recognition that not all, If any, man-made diseases are created Intentionally and some are more the result f the progress of the species than of any dire plan. 10. Obesity Although It Is more than cause of disease rather than the disease Itself, It Is probably worth recognizing that obesity In the twenty-first century Is the product of a society that has removed, through changing work habits or the provision of convenience, the practices that previously kept it in check. In this way, man has made the basis off plethora of diseases.In the last twenty years, obesity rates in the developed world have virtually doubled. This has had a profound effect on the number of number of people suffering Gall Bladder Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension and Displacement, as well as increasing a number of other health concerns. This has led to obesity being acknowledged as being virtually epidemic in its spread through and impact on the human race. There are those who are genetically disposed to obesity and for these people it remains a condition to be managed.But for the greater part of the Industrialized world, almost a third of all people are afflicted with a disease that is â€Å"caught† through inactivity, poor diet and a lack of awareness. The AIDS virus has been blamed on any number of Institutions, Just as It has on arioso species and continents. While many of us believe that Its eruption and the misery it has caused is similar to othe r dreadful epidemics, such as the Black Plague, that have afflicted the human race and whose origins have never been fully determined, there are also many who mount strong arguments for human intervention. Comate the human race. However, as it primarily attacked the homosexual community, the ravages of AIDS were mostly limited too minority. Yet it is this limitation that has raised so many questions. Was it a stroke of â€Å"luck† that AIDS began in the gay community? Or was it a planned assault on a sector of the community that offended the establishment? The circumstantial evidence has led theorists to consider the role of the American Government, the World Health Organization and even the Catholic Church as players in a diabolical scheme to rid the world of homosexuals.But as any more substantial proof is not forthcoming, it is difficult to accept that any human could inflict such tragedy on another, let alone on millions. Whether through the volume of voices raised in pro test or through the bizarre series of facts that seemed to have fallen into place to see it begin as it did, there is enough injector to consider that AIDS may have been a man-made disease.While there is little, if any, evidence to suggest that Cardiovascular Disease is the product of direct or deliberate intervention by an individual or group of scientists, it must be considered that it incidence has risen dramatically in the light of modern living. This would suggest that, while not exactly man-made, the danger and spread of the disease is clearly attributable to man's cultural and social progress. Cardiovascular Disease was the cause of less than ten per cent of deaths at the start f the twentieth century, yet today has a role in at least thirty per cent of deaths.Eight out of every ten of deaths from this disease today occur in the developed nations of the world. The causes of Cardiovascular Disease include smoking, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and poor diet. This wo uld suggest that as we have become more prone to stress, as we have lost the need to work in ways that maintain physical effort and as we have been provided with convenient food sources as opposed to healthy ones, we have become more susceptible to this disease.Man has made his life more pleasurable, convenient and comfortable, but has multitudinously made a disease that is growing in its prevalence Viruses can have a debilitating effect on susceptible organisms and when people are sick they have a tendency to look for someone to blame. While it is occasionally satisfying to growl at the dog or snarl at the cat when one isn't feeling well, the prospect of blaming a pig for a potentially fatal virus offers little comfort. On this basis, a number of broadly termed â€Å"scientifically-minded† people have decided that Swine Flu is a man-made disease.There is a strained, but compelling logic to the argument. Swine Flu is believed to be he result of a combination of four previousl y identified viruses, a Swine Flu strain from Asia/Europe, North American swine flu, North American avian flu and human different species coming together by accident is incomprehensible, so there must have been human intervention. That is, bitterroot are at work. However, with the speed and ease with which people and animals now move around the world, it is quite possible that a virus could be carried enormous distances by multiple hosts.The high rate of vaccination and immunization that occurs in the general population means that non-symptomatic arises are far more common than was once the case. The sad predicament of the pig in being susceptible to both human and bird diseases, not to mention his own collection of bugs, makes him an effective breeding ground for a huge gathering of virus component. The endpoint being a nasty virus, combining four previously known viruses, that comes from swine, that is the Swine Flu. As neat as this explanation is, the scientists can't realistical ly claim to have it all their own way.Their scenario makes sense, but the probabilities behind it must give something to the â€Å"scientifically-minded†. On this basis, the man-made versus quirk of nature argument remains a nil-all draw. Although the polio virus itself is on the brink of extinction worldwide and many governments have been considering the abolition of vaccination against the disease, US researchers were able to add it to the list of man-made diseases in 2002 by â€Å"building† the first synthetic virus based on the genome of the polio virus.That is to say, while the rest of the world celebrated the defeat of a monster, scientists put time and effort into reviving it once again. While there may have been good reason to create the virus, such as studying it to covers the best means of defeating its like in future, the people responsible had a more simplistic motive for their work. The reason they did it was to prove that it can be done.They also admitted that they had achieved the feat by following a recipe that â€Å"they downloaded from the internet† and were able to use gene sequences that they attained from a mail-order service. In answer to criticism that they had made the way clear for terrorists to create new and deadly viruses, the researchers explained that there are only a handful of people who would have the knowledge to carry out the task successfully. But they did advise that all governments should follow the lead of the World Health Organization and stockpile significant quantities of polio vaccine Just in case.As broad as this topic is, by the very nature of the process through which vaccines are made and administered, they must be the most effective and impressive of man- made diseases. The earliest medical practitioners would probably have noticed that those who survived a virus, however nasty (the virus, not the people), were somehow didn't know how to use this knowledge. The Chinese had a revolting, but cl ever attempt at harnessing this process in their trudge against smallpox, but it wasn't until the sass's that the idea really found an audience in Europe.Now the study and production of vaccines is continually being improved, but the basic procedure remains the same. Simplistically, a virus contains two parts, that which makes us sick and that which contains antigens that stimulate the immune response. By isolating the antigens a vaccine is able to be created that will tell our immune system to build up defenses against a particular virus. Then when the virus reaches us, we already have the defenses in place.

Haikouichthys - Facts and Figures

Name: Haikouichthys (Greek for fish from Haikou); pronounced HIGH-koo-ICK-thiss Habitat: Shallow seas of Asia Historical Period: Early Cambrian (530 million years ago) Size and Weight: About one inch long and less than an ounce Diet: Small marine organisms Distinguishing Characteristics: Tiny size; fin along length of back About Haikouichthys The Cambrian period is famous for its explosion of bizarre invertebrate life forms, but this span of time also saw the evolution of the earliest almost-vertebrates--marine organisms like Haikouichthys, Pikaia and Myllokunmingia that bore the faintest outlines of backbones and had a noticeably fish-like shape. As with these other genera, whether or not Haikouichthys was technically a prehistoric fish is still a subject of debate. This was certainly one of the earliest craniates (i.e., organisms with skulls), but lacking any definitive fossil evidence, it may have had a primitive notochord running down its back rather than a true backbone. Haikouichthys and its companions did, however, introduce some features that are so commonplace now as to be completely unremarkable. For example, this creatures head was distinct from its tail, it was bilaterally symmetric (that is, its right side matched up with its left side), and it had two eyes and a mouth on its head end. By Cambrian standards, it may have been the most advanced life form of its day!