Kansas State University's Melody LeHew envisions a Web site where scholars collaborate and read the latest research in sustainability, where students investigate how to make sustainable decisions in the workplace, and where the public go to understand how to practice sustainability in their lives.
This spring, LeHew, an associate professor of apparel and textiles in K-State's College of Human Ecology, took the initial step toward developing the Apparel and Textile Sustainability Research Lab Web site.
Preliminary site development was part of an apparel and textile student's honors project. Jessica Ponnath, under the guidance of LeHew, designed a template and developed content to educate students about sustainable textiles and to encourage personal sustainable consumer behavior. Ponnath is a senior from Kansas City, Kan.
The finished site will summarize current research, highlight sustainable practitioners in apparel and textile channels of distribution, and provide resources to help site visitors practice sustainability, LeHew said.
"We want to share resources with those interested in sustainability," she said.
The site will include sections for three audiences:
* For researchers and academics, the site will offer resources such as current publications in the field, a place to find collaborators on sustainability projects and an in-depth look at sustainability research in apparel and textiles at K-State. Resources suggesting how to bring sustainability into the classroom also will be available, LeHew said.
* For students, LeHew hopes message boards and information such as the link to "How Green is my Wardrobe" will facilitate discussion and action among students. She and other textile and apparel faculty help students develop sensitivity on sustainability issues. "They will be making the decisions in the marketplace as consumers and as leaders in clothing and textile field. Their decisions will impact the economy, the environment and determine social equity," LeHew said.
* For the community, the site will translate scholarly work into practical applications. "We want to help the public make the transition to sustainability," LeHew said. "We can no longer escape the reality that environmental degradation is happening and we all need to accept responsibility for building a sustainable economy." Practical information will cover topics ranging from recyclable textile products to renewable fibers such as alpaca and bamboo.
K-State's Apparel and Textile Sustainability Research Lab was established in 2006. Current research projects include: Politics of Consumption: Identifying and Understanding Early Adopters of Sustainability Practices by LeHew; and Consumer Environmental Attitudes and Interest in Sustainable Textiles by Deborah Brosdahl, associate professor of apparel and textiles.
"In our minds, the more people focusing on sustainability issues the better quality of life for individuals and families into the future," LeHew said.
The sustainability Web site is under development at http://www.k-state.edu/sustainability