Martijn Boersma, Zoe Mellick, Alice Payne, Justine Coneybeer, Rowena Maguire, Erin O'Brien and Timo Rissanen
Our research seeks to understand how actors in the Australian cotton industry can address downstream labour and human rights risks in the textiles and apparel value chain.
Abstract
Purpose
Our research seeks to understand how actors in the Australian cotton industry can address downstream labour and human rights risks in the textiles and apparel value chain.
Design/methodology/approach
Taking the Australian cotton industry as the site of our action research project, we conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of 19 interviews, supplemented by industry engagement and desktop research.
Findings
We identify seven opportunities for action by the Australian cotton industry to address downstream labour and human rights risks, which are articulated in the context of a strategic enforcement approach.
Originality/value
The research focuses on opportunities for action to address downstream labour and human rights risks, thereby going beyond the traditional interventions by fashion brands and retailers that target upstream actors.
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Holly McQuillan, Timo Rissanen and Julian Roberts
The Cutting Circle is an international research initiative by fashion designers/patternmakers and educators Timo Rissanen, Julian Roberts and Holly McQuillan. By exploring…
Abstract
The Cutting Circle is an international research initiative by fashion designers/patternmakers and educators Timo Rissanen, Julian Roberts and Holly McQuillan. By exploring alternative methods of making clothes and patterns, we have employed 'risky' design practice, research and teaching to develop zero waste fashion and subtraction cutting. The project manifested as an intensive two-week practice-based research event, where via a series of collaborative collisions, experiments and design intersections, we asked the following three questions. What costs/benefits can we identify to aid the development of a sustainable fashion industry through risk taking at the intersection of our design practices? What new knowledge arises in risky collaborative design practice? And how can this new knowledge be best communicated to foster an environment of risk-taking within the traditionally risk adverse fashion industry? This paper primarily discusses our responses to the first two questions and related issues raised. It covers how experimenting with each other's design practice and practicing in each other's creative space as we both designed and made, enable the free transfer of ideas and cross-pollination, thus expanding our ability to identify links, gaps and opportunities. The Cutting Circle project has developed experimental practices with emphasis on the fusion of aesthetics, patternmaking, craft and socially invigorating design.
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Visa Väisänen, Addiena Luke-Currier, Laura Hietapakka, Marko Elovainio and Timo Sinervo
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary healthcare professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study design incorporating social network analysis was utilized. Wellbeing surveys with a network questionnaire were sent to care personnel (physicians, nurses and allied health workers) of Finnish primary healthcare in December 2022 (n = 96). Correlation coefficients and multivariate linear regression modeling were used to analyze the associations.
Findings
Higher level of collaboration (measured as number of connections in the network) was associated with lower perceived job demands and higher job control. Care professionals’ frequency of collaboration and proportion of connections with the same occupation (homophily) were borderline associated with social support, indicating further research needs. Larger professional networks, perhaps enabling better teamwork and sharing of workload or information, may directly or indirectly protect from job strain.
Practical implications
Work-related collaboration in primary care should be encouraged and large support networks need to be promoted further. Individuals, especially allied health workers, working in multiple locations or as a sole member of their occupation group in the work community need to be provided with adequate social support.
Originality/value
Social network analysis has been proposed as a tool to investigate care integration and collaboration, but direct analyses of network measures and validated wellbeing instruments have remained absent. This study illuminated the role of collaboration structures in work-related wellbeing of care professionals by showcasing the potential of social network analysis.