Atom Bomb Made from Recycled Clothing
Over the new years holiday I was able to upload some images to My Sustainable Fashion’s Facebook page. One of the images was “Atom Bomb Made from Recycled Clothing” by Cuban born artists, Alain Guerra and Neraldo de la Paz — who live and work in Miami, Florida:
Image from: http://illusion.scene360.com/art/10283/atom-bomb-made-from-recycled-clothing/
Recently this response was posted on the Facebook page:
À première vu cela m’a semblé bien, et lorsque j’ai bien regardé et que j’ai pu voir que c’était bien ce que je croyais que c’était (la bombe Hiroshima) le champignon nucléaire…. Quoique je trouve aussi que ce soit une splendeur à regarder, mais l’horreur de ce que ça peut faire sur tout. Lorsque j’ai ouvert l’image et que j’ai pu constaté que c’était fait avec de vieux vêtements… Tout un travail colossale, toutes mes félicitations aux créateur ! Au moins celui-ci ne tuera pas personne..
Loosely translated (in case you don’t read French), when they first saw the image, they thought it was a nuclear bomb, looking closer they realized that it actually clothing. Relieved, they congratulate the artist and write “At least this won’t kill anybody.” (Now my French isn’t the best, so please let me know if I’m misrepresenting the comment.)
“At least this won’t kill anybody.” Reading this makes me sad. The wide array of processes involved in making and transporting textiles and clothing creates countless opportunities to incorporate toxins, carcinogens, chemicals that mimic hormones, mutagens, respiratory irritants, and more. Many of these toxins are used without education, protection or regulation. Exposure is possible along the entire chain of production, shipping and product use. Most businesses and countries lack the technology, facilities and/or desire to fully understand the extent that exposure to these chemicals affect their people. The producers of these chemicals continue on unregulated and without responsibility while the people, families and communities that are affected receive no justice and no help. Yet, we can still look at a work of art like “Atom Bomb Made from Recycled Clothing” and refuse, or simply be unable, to recognise the powerful statement being made about the impact of textiles and clothing on our people and environment.
I hope that you will take 45 minutes out of your day and watch this video. I hope that you will share it with your friends.
I hope that you will refuse to buy products that are made in countries that do not actively protect and support people who work, or countries that do not regulate chemical usage or environmental damage.
I hope that you will refuse to shop at stores that sell these products. I hope that you will write a letter to the manager at this store where you refuse to shop, I hope you send your letter to their CEO and your member of parliament.
I hope that you will value people more than cheap stuff.
I hope that you will get mad.
In case you are interested in some of the chemicals mentioned in the video:
