Watch RiverBlue: Can Fashion Save the Planet?

RiverBlue is a documentary that focuses on the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment, and the efforts to find sustainable solutions. The film is directed by David McIlvride and Roger Williams, and features environmental activist Mark Angelo, actor Jason Priestley, and sustainable fashion designer Orsola De Castro.

The movie starts by showcasing the beauty of the world's rivers and the crucial role they play in sustaining life on the planet. However, this beauty is being threatened by the harmful chemicals and waste chemicals that the fashion industry releases into waterways. This threatens the ecosystems of the rivers and the life that depends on them.

The filmmakers take the viewers on a journey around the world as they explore the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry. The trip spans four continents and includes countries such as Bangladesh, India, China, and Indonesia. During this journey, we get a glimpse of the lives of the people who earn their living in the garment industry and how the current practices affect their lives.

The filmmakers interview a number of experts, environmentalists, and designers to explain how the fashion industry is linked to the destruction of the planet's waterways. We learn that the textile industry is the world's second-biggest polluter and accounts for 20% of global water wastage.

The film examines the process of textile production, from the cultivation of raw materials to the final stages of manufacturing. We discover the shocking quantities of water required for the dyeing and finishing of fabrics, and how the toxic chemicals used in the process subsequently end up in rivers and oceans.

We then see the disaster that has struck the communities that live near the polluted rivers. The water is no longer drinkable, the fishing industry has been decimated, and the locals suffer from water-related illnesses. We learn that the fashion industry's demand for fast, cheap fashion is what is driving the environmental destruction.

The movie highlights the work of environmentalists and designers who are trying to create sustainable solutions for the fashion industry. We get to see how they are creating garments from materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, and hemp. The designers are also looking at ways of reducing water consumption and waste through innovative manufacturing techniques, such as zero-waste pattern cutting.

RiverBlue is a powerful documentary that raises awareness of the impact of the fashion industry on the environment. It gives a voice to the people whose lives are affected by the industry and showcases the efforts of those who are working towards sustainable solutions. In highlighting the problems the industry faces, it encourages consumers, designers, and manufacturers to rethink their approach to fashion and contribute to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

In conclusion, RiverBlue is a must-watch for anyone who cares about the environment and the impact of human actions on the planet. The powerful message of the documentary is that fashion can save the planet, but only if we change the way we produce and consume fashion. The filmmakers have done an excellent job of raising awareness and inspiring action.

RiverBlue: Can Fashion Save the Planet? is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 34 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.7.