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Health Problems Related to Clothes
Typically, clothing contains bacteria, soils and germs, even when they are freshly washed. In North America alone, twenty-five percent of home washing machines are contaminated with fecal bacteria, according to Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona in Tucson. Dirty clothes can lead to and even worsen many skin infections or wounds. Each pair of dirty underwear contains about one-tenth of a gram of bacteria-carrying feces, which is about the same size as a quarter of a peanut. Also, excessive sweating can increase the likelihood of an infection. For instance, Staphylococcus or Staph bacteria can live in our skin surface harmlessly. However, once the Staph bacteria enter an infection or wound, problems can occur. One of the ways to transfer Staph bacteria is through sharing and wearing dirty clothes. These concerns are greatly heightened in underdeveloped countries, where bacteria and germs in the clothing are common due to the poor environment and unsanitary conditions.

Bacteria can be found in the ground and other surfaces. In underdeveloped countries, people have to work long hours in farmland since agriculture is an important source of income for many families. Consequently, people can pick up various bacteria from soils that may be caught on their clothes while working. For example, Citrobacter bacteria live in soil and animals. When Citrobacter enter an existing infection or wound, it can cause infections in the lungs, respiratory organs, urinary tract and blood. Also, due to the constraint of water and the heat of the sun, many communities in poverty-stricken countries lack proper hygienic habits, such as bathing or showering everyday. Dirty clothes and unclean bodies provide a stable environment for body lice and other bodily rashes and allergies. Sanitation is weak in the water supply that people do wash their clothes in and induce further build up of bacterias. As bacteria builds up from sweat on the surface of skin and hair, it forms unwanted diseases and rashes that make one very agitated. Therefore, to provide a safe solution, we are designing sustainable, affordable and healthy options of clothes; as one is less prone to exposure of bacterias and diseases, but is eliminated before it gets a chance to have contact on human skin through the use of Silver Nanoparticles integrated into the clothes.



Silver Nanoparticles:
Silver is often overlooked for having a lower quality and lesser value in comparison to Gold. However, Silver should not be undermined because it presents numerous factors that make it as important and vital in today's technology. In today's society, Silver offers a higher value and utility. Silver is a metallic chemical element that has been valued since Ancient Greece and Rome, providing basis for the monetary system that leads to trades of silverware and ornaments. Due to Silver's antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, the tradition of drinking from silver utensils had been implemented into the human civilization. The nature of their antibacterial characteristics and technology developments therefore lead to the development of Silver Nanoparticles. Today, it continues to undergo drastic configuration so it can become a common material in producing consumer products.

Silver Nanoparticles are in increments as small as 25 nanometres which is so miniscule that it can't be seen and it pose no threat to human contact. These particles are inherited into the products that we use and are non-toxic, non-ionic, and have no history of being harmful to the environment or aquatic life. Alongside with antibacterial agent, these traits pose a high selling point of Silver Nanoparticles products. For example, the military grade clothing often uses Silver Nanoparticles as articles of clothing are worn for an extended period of time without wash.

With the antibacterial elements, Silver Nanoparticles acts as a gatekeeper between the bacteria and the host cells of a human being. Their role is to ensure a bond between deadly viral microorganisms and traps and kills it before it bonds with the host cells causing odours and fungus infection. Silver compounds on the surface of the threads provide long lasting sanitization and also kills bacterias by destroying the cell's membranes. Just like silverware, we are able to use Silver over and over again without having to fear the build up of bacteria.

Silver is embedded into clothing through several methods, but mainly, through the implementation of Silver Nanoparticles into the polymer from which yarns for producing clothes are made. In our design, we structured the same idea as the military grade clothing but without the hefty price tag. We showcase the designs to the underserved communities of third world countries. Our goal is to design a line of durable, healthy and affordable clothing. With harsh conditions from rainfalls and muddy terrains, Simply Clothing copes to the environment with their easy detachable knee length so pants can be worn as shorts. Limiting the spread of diseases and infections can sustain and keep a healthy community.