♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY -- >> THIS IS A FUNNY KIND OF SPACE.

IT READS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.

WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF LIFE IN OUR COLLECTIONS.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE EXPLORATION AND THAT THE NATURAL WORLD DOES NOT JUST BELONG TO SCIENCE, IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE.

>> IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO GO WITHOUT BUYING NEW CLOTHES.

>> AND 2017 -- IN 2017, I GOT A STRIPED SHIRT.

I SAID THAT'S THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO GET.

>> THE POLITICAL PUNDITS HAVE BEEN A LOT TOUGHER ON YOU THAN THEY HAVE BEEN ON YOUR OPPONENTS.

THAT'S GOT TO STING, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I AM MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

>> I AM PAMELA WATTS.

WE BEGIN WITH A LOOK AT RISD.

THE COLLEGE WAS FOUNDED VIA SMALL GROUP OF WOMEN -- BY A SMALL GROUP OF WOMEN 45 YEARS AGO.

>> TO SUPPORT RHODE ISLAND'S TEXTILE AND JEWELRY INDUSTRY, CLASSES INCLUDED FREEHAND DRAWING, PAINTING, AND DESIGN.

TODAY RISD ALSO OFFERS FILMMAKING, INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, AND LESS WORKING.

AS PART OF OUR CONTINUING SERIES, "WENT ON RHODE ISLAND," WE VISIT AN UNUSUAL PART OF THE COLLEGE WHERE STUDENTS CAN FIND OWLS, SKELETONS, AND MYSTERIES ONLY SEEN BY MICROSCOPE.

WELCOME TO THE NATURE LAB AT RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

I AM THE INTERIM DIRECTOR OF THE LAB.

♪ THE BUILDING WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW WAS RISD BACK IN 1877.

THIS BEAUTIFUL BRICK BUILDING WAS THE ENTIRETY OF THE RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

IN 1937, THIS BECAME THE STUDIO SPACE FOR ONE OF THE PROFESSORS HERE, EDNA LAWRENCE, HENCE THE NAME OF THE LAB.

SHE TAUGHT NATURE DRAWING IN THIS CLASSROOM.

HER THINKING WAS THAT, IF EVER YOU WERE AT A LOSS WITH WHAT TO DO WITH ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS, THAT NATURE COULD SERVE AS ENDLESS INSPIRATION, IN TERMS OF COLOR AND FORM AND PATTERN AND STRUCTURE.

♪ EDNA LAWRENCE, SHE DEFINITELY MARCHED TO THE BEAT OF HER OWN DRUMMER, THANKFULLY.

AND THERE ARE STORIES THAT SHE ACTUALLY AT ONE POINT STOWED AWAY ON A BARGE, SHE WAS SO EAGER TO GET TO THESE OTHER COUNTRIES, THAT SHE FOUND ANYWHERE THAT SHE COULD AS A WOMAN TO BUCK HER PASSAGE TO GET TO THESE INCREDIBLE DESTINATIONS.

♪ WHEN EDNA LEFT, THERE WERE ABOUT 20,000 SPECIMENS IN THE COLLECTION, AND NOW THERE ARE SOME 90,000 TO 100,000 SPECIMENS.

THIS IS A FUNNY KIND OF SPACE.

IT READS A LITTLE BIT LIKE A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM.

EXCEPT IT IS A LITTLE MORE LIKE A LENDING LIBRARY.

MOST OF THE THINGS IN THIS COLLECTION DO NOT HAVE A RED DOT ON THEM, YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT LIKE MY FRIEND THE BEAR HERE, YOU CAN BE CHECKED OUT.

BUT OTHER THINGS YOU CAN CHECK OUT JUST LIKE YOU WOULD A LIBRARY BOOK.

YOU TAKE THE SPECIMENS BACK TO YOUR DORM ROOM OR STUDIO, YOU ARE ABLE TO REALLY EXPLORE THEM AND APPLY THEM INTO PROJECTS IN WHATEVER WAY THEY WANT TO.

♪ >> HELLO.

I'M BENEDICT A., I AM A STAFF BIOLOGIST AND COLLECTIONS MANAGER AT THE RISD NATURE LAB.

IN ADDITION TO ALL THE PRESERVED AND DRIED SPECIMENS WE HAVE WHICH IS A MAJORITY OF WHAT WE HAVE HERE, THERE IS BEEN A LONG HISTORY OF HAVING LIVE ANIMALS AS WELL.

TO MY LEFT IS OUR RESIDENT CORN SNAKE.

♪ WE DO OCCASIONALLY GET FOUND ESCAPED PETS AND THINGS LIKE THAT FROM VARIOUS DORMS ON CAMPUS.

RECENTLY, WE GOT A SMALL SNAKE, THE SAME TYPE OF SNAKE, A CORN SNAKE.

A PLUMBER ON CAMPUS WALKED INTO THE LAB WITH A DANCE THAT I FOUND THIS ESCAPED IN ONE OF THE DORMS AND THOUGHT YOU WERE THE PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> SO, ONE OF THE INTERESTING CREATURES WE HAVE HERE AT THE NATURE LAB IS OUR AXOLOTL, GULLIVER.

THEY ARE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT WHICH IS IN MEXICO CITY, JUST ONE LAKE IN MEXICO CITY WHERE THEY ARE FOUND NATURALLY.

BUT THEY ARE VERY WIDESPREAD GLOBALLY, BECAUSE THEY ARE USED IN LABS FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PURPOSES, ONE OF WHICH IS TO STUDY LIMB REGENERATION.

THESE GUYS CAN LOSE AN ARM OR A LEG AND GROW IT BACK AGAIN.

I THOUGHT, THIS WOULD BE INTERESTING, I WILL SEE IF I CAN GROW AN AXOLOTL.

WE ENDED UP WITH 24 FULL GROWN AXOLOTLS AT THE END.

A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVER ABUNDANCE WHICH WE FOUND THEM ALL REALLY GOOD HOMES.

♪ OKAY, LET'S HEAD OVER TO THE BONE ROOM.

SO, HERE WE ARE IN THE BONE RO OM, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COLLECTION OF BONES.

INTERNAL SKELETONS AND EXOSKELETONS.

♪ ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I FIND EXCITING ABOUT THIS COLLECTION IS, IT IS PROBABLY THE SPACE THAT HIGHLIGHTS MOST WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO, IN TERMS OF BIOMIMICRY, LOOKING TO THE NATURAL WORLD FOR DESIGNED SOLUTIONS, SO THINKING ABOUT THE 3.8 BILLION YEARS OF EVOLUTION LIFE HAS BEEN ON THIS PLANET, THERE ARE A LOT OF PRESSURES THAT HAVE BEEN SOLVED BY ORGANISMS OVER TIME THAT WE AS DESIGNERS CAN LOOK TO FOR INSPIRATION OF HOW TO SOLVE SOME OF THE DESIGN PROBLEMS THAT WE ARE FACING.

♪ WELCOME TO THE IMAGING LAB.

WHEN EDNA LAWRENCE LEFT IN 1977, THE ONE THING SHE SAID WHEN SHE WAS GOING OUT THE DOOR WAS, THERE WOULD BE A WHOLE NEW ARRAY OF THINGS TO EXPLORE, IF WE COULD SEE THEM IN DIFFERENT SCALES.

♪ SO, FOR EXAMPLE, USING THE HIGH-SPEED VIDEO CAMERA, THERE ARE SOME IMAGES ON THE SCREEN BACK THERE THAT SHOW HOW A DRAGONFLY'S WING, WHEN IT IS RAINING, THE WATERFALLS ON THE WING, BEADS UP, AND ROLLS RIGHT OFF OF THE WING.

♪ SO THEN STUDENTS CAME OVER AND USED THE SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPE TO SEE WHAT THOSE MICROSTRUCTURES OF THE WING ARE NOT ALLOW IT TO HAVE THAT HYDROPHOBIC SURFACE -- THAT ALLOW IT TO HAVE THAT HYDROPHOBIC SURFACE.

THE COLLECTION IS ALWAYS CHANGING.

STUDENTS WILL SEND THINGS FROM THEIR TROUBLES AS WELL AND WE SOMETIMES GE MYSTERY BOXES -- GET MYSTERY BOXES TO POTENTIALLY ADD TO THE COLLECTION.

SO THE COLLECTION IS ALWAYS GROWING.

♪ >> WHEN IT COMES TO TRENDS, FASHION OFTEN SEEMS CYCLICAL.

THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR THE NEXT ORDER, WHICH TAKES A LOOK AT HOW MILLENNIALS AND GEN Z HAVE EMBRACED THRIFT SHOPPING.

FOR SOME, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A FASHION STATEMENT, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT, AIMED AT REDUCING RELIANCE ON FAST, CHEAP MANUFACTURING.

ACCORDING TO THE EPA, AMERICANS GENERATED 13 MILLION TONS OF CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR WASTE IN 2018.

THIS REPORT IS PART OF OUR CONTINUING GREEN SEEKER SERIES.

WE WERE FIRST BROUGHT THIS STORY LAST JUNE.

>> WE'VE GOT THE CLASSIC BLACK.

>> A REVOLVING DOOR OF TRENDS.

>> DON'T YOU JUST LOVE IT?

>> LOVE WHAT?

>> TIFFANY'S.

>> SHOPPING HAS BEEN IMMORTALIZED AS A GREAT AMERICAN PASTIME.

>> WORK ON COMMISSION, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> BIG MISTAKE.

BIG, HUGE.

>> BUT IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO GO WITHOUT BUYING NEW CLOTHES.

>> AND 2017 -- IN 2017, I GOT A STRIPED SHIRT.

I SAID THAT'S THE LAST THING I'M GOING TO GET.

>> THAT WAS THE GOAL FOR THIS FURNITURE DESIGN STUDENT AT RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN.

HE WENT NEARLY TWO YEARS WITHOUT BUYING A SINGLE NEW ITEM OF CLOTHING.

>> WHAT DID YOU DO INSTEAD?

>> BUYING USED, GOING THROUGH THRIFT STORES, FINDING THINGS.

ALSO NOT CONSUMING CLOSE ON THE SAME WAY, NOT BEING LIKE, OH, THINKING, THIS WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN TO BUY, BUT BEING LIKE, OH, I NEED A PAIR OF PANTS.

IT'S MORE BASED ON NEED, RATHER THAN ONE.

SO BUYING LESS AND GETTING LESS.

>> HE ALSO LEARNED HOW TO SEW HIS OWN CLOTHES, SOCKS, AND MAKE HIS OWN REPAIRS.

>> NOT MUCH GOING ON IN MY BRAIN, JUST KIND OF A LOT OF DOING AND LETTING MY HANDS JUST TO THE WORK THEY NEED TO DO.

I AM A WOODWORKER, SO A LOT OF MY WORK CLOTHES, MY LAPS ARE KIND OF LIKE A BENCH, SO I TEND TO WEAR OUT THIS AREA PRETTY FAST, PUTTING IN PANELS HERE.

AND TO REPAIR THAT, SO PANTS.

YOU CAN SEE IN THE POCKET HERE, ORIGINALLY THERE'S NO BOTTOM OF THE POCKETS.

>>'S NEW APPROACH TO SHOP AND BEGAN WHEN HE SAW HOW CLOTHES WERE MADE AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> HUGE AMOUNTS OF WATER ARE USED TO PRODUCE A SINGLE YARD OF FABRIC.

ESPECIALLY IN DYES AND PROCESSING AND AGRICULTURE, COTTON IS A PRETTY WATER HUNGRY PLANT.

>> AND HE SAYS NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT POLYESTER COMES FROM DRILLING OIL, AND SYNTHETICS SHED.

>> FABRICS MAKE FUZZ, FROM SYNTHETIC FABRIC, THAT IS MICRO PLASTICS.

>> POLYESTER GARMENT CAN CAST OFF MORE THAN 1900 FIBERS IN A SINGLE WASH, WHICH MAKE THEIR WAY THROUGH SEWERS AND INTO WATERWAYS.

>> IT IS A HUGE SOURCE OF MICRO-PLASTICS IN THE OCEAN, SYNTHETIC PLASTICS, HAVING A HUGE EFFECT ON ECOSYSTEMS.

>> AND HE REACHED A TIPPING POINT AFTER SEEING REPORTS OF THE DESTRUCTIVE IMPACTS OF MAKING FAST, CHEAP CLOTHES.

>> THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER HORRIFIC INCIDENT AT A GARMENT FACTORY IN BANGLADESH.

AN EIGHT STORY BUILDING COLLAPSED TODAY, KILLING AT LEAST 145 PEOPLE.

>> IT WAS PURE CHAOS.

DURING THE MORNING RUSH HOUR, IT SIMPLY COLLAPSED.

>> IN BANGLADESH, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR LAWS ARE FREQUENTLY IGNORED.

IN THE $1 BILLION LEATHER EXPORT INDUSTRY.

HARMFUL CHEMICALS, DUMPED INTO NEIGHBORHOOD STREAMS.

THIS WATER IS ACTUALLY DIED BLUE BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS.

-- DYED BLUE BECAUSE OF THE PROCESS.

EXPOSING THEM TO KNOWN CANCER-CAUSING AGENTS LIKE CHROMIUM.

AND CHILD WORKERS ARE FREQUENTLY SEEN OPERATING HEAVY MACHINERY.

FAST FASHION ALSO CAUSES PROBLEMS LONG AFTER IT'S USED.

ADAM IS A JOURNALIST AND EXPERT ON THE GLOBAL RECYCLING INDUSTRY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS REALLY IS THAT GARMENTS HAVE BECOME MORE DIFFICULT TO RECYCLE.

YOU HAVE MANUFACTURERS AND TEXTILES AND APPAREL CREATED WITH POLY BLEND, COTTON AND POLYESTER BLENDING AT TOGETHER -- BLENDED TOGETHER.

THAT IS A PROBLEM IF YOU ARE A CLOTHING RECYCLER.

BECAUSE COTTON HAS PROPERTIES, POLYESTER HAS PROPERTIES, ONCE YOU MAKE SOME, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEPARATE THEM.

THAT IS WHERE YOU START SEEING LARGE AMOUNTS OF TEXTILE WASTE.

>> AND HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE OPTING OUT OF THIS PROCESS.

>> THRUSTING IS A HUGE TREND RIGHT NOW IN THE GLOBAL APPAREL INDUSTRY -- THRUSTING IS A HUGE TREND RIGHT NOW IN THE GLOBAL APPAREL INDUSTRY NOT JUST IN STORES, BUT ONLINE.

BECAUSE OF THE POSTMARK, VARIOUS OTHER APPS, EBAY, PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO POST FOR SALE THEIR OLD GARMENTS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE CLOSET AND THEY ARE PURCHASED THAT WAY.

>> WE LOVE IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN WE WILL SELL IT.

THIS 24-YEAR-OLD AND 27-YEAR-OLD USE DEPOP, AN APP THAT IS A FAVORITE AMONG GEN Z.

>> IT STARTS WITH THE CLOSET CLEAN OUT.

FOR SURE THAT'S WHERE IT STARTS.

THEN YOU GIVE A BACK OF YOUR CODES TO YOUR FRIENDS TO GO THROUGH, BUT THEN AS YOU GET OLDER YOU START TO HAVE THESE PIECES THAT MAYBE YOU DON'T WEAR ANYMORE BUT ARE WORTH SOMETHING.

>> YOU CAN PUT A TOWEL OVER IT AND ARE IN IT WERE QUICK -- IRON IT QUICK.

>> SHE RECENTLY MADE HER 100TH SALE ON THE PLATFORM.

>> I KNOW PEOPLE THAT WILL USE APPS TO LIST SOME OF THEIR CLOTHES AND WHATEVER THEY MAKE THE IMMEDIATELY TURN AROUND AND ARE PURCHASING NEW CLOTHES FROM THE APP.

>> IT A LITTLE ECONOMY OF ITS OWN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

.

THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.

IT IS VERY SUSTAINABLE.

IT'S ALL BEING PURCHASED SECONDHAND.

>> SHE AND HER FRIENDS FOUND SO MUCH SUCCESS ONLINE, THEY TOOK THEIR BUSINESS TO RHODE ISLAND'S SIDEWALKS.

>> MIGHT SHRINK WHEN YOU GET HOME.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT IS A GROUP OF FIVE OF US.

WE'LL GO THRIFTING AND STORE THE CLOTHES IN OUR APARTMENT OR POP UP IN OUR DRIVEWAY OR AT A LOCAL BUSINESS.

WE BRING ALL OF OUR RACKS AND HANGERS AND TABLES.

EVERYTHING IS TAGGED.

WE LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES A TRAVELING THRIFT SHOP, COMING TO A SIDEWALK NEAR YOU.

>> MY DAD IS A CARPENTER.

HE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT WE WANT TO WEAR DICKIE'S PANTS.

HE'S LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

[LAUGHTER] THESE ARE MY WORK PANTS.

BUT I THINK THEY ARE COOL BECAUSE THEY ARE STAINED UP.

>> THANKS FOR COMING!

>> THE GROUP SELLS ABOUT 250 PIECES.

BUT REPLENISHING THEIR STOCK HAS GOTTEN MORE COSTLY, AS THRIFTING HAS BECOME MORE POPULAR.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN OVERALL PRICE INCREASES TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GO TO PICK UP A TOP THAT A FEW YEARS AGO WOULD'VE BEEN A SUPER AFFORDABLE SIX -- $6.99 IS NOW $12.99.

>> TO GO TO THE GOODWILL IN HAMDEN CONNECTICUT, THEY CALL THEM THE BINS.

HERE THEY SELL BY THE POUND AND THE MORE YOU BUY THE CHEAPER IT IS.

EVERY HALF HOUR OR SO, NEW BINS ROLLED OUT ONTO THE FLOOR.

IT IS SERIOUS BUSINESS FOR THEIR MAIN CLIENTELE, PICKERS, WHO BUY IN BULK AND RESELL.

THE STORE MANAGER RUNS THE SHOW HERE.

>> NO HANDS ON THE TABLE.

UNTIL THE ROTATION IS COMPLETE.

>> EVERYONE HAS TO WAIT FOR HER SIGNAL UNTIL THEY CAN COMPETE FOR THE BEST OF AND THEN THE FREE-FOR-ALL STARTS.

>> ALL SET.

>> SOME SPECIALIZE IN DENIM, OTHER VINTAGE T-SHIRTS.

SOME SUPPLY LOCAL THRIFT SHOPS.

OTHER SPENDS MONTHS OF THE YEAR HERE AND HAM DONE STOCKING BEFORE TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY TO SELL THEIR FINDS.

YOU CAN TELL WHO'S WHO, THOSE EXPORTING TO AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA ONLY CHOOSE WARM WEATHER CLOTHES, LIKE T-SHIRTS AND FLIP-FLOPS.

THE STUFF THEY LEAVE BEHIND HAD THROUGH THE DOORS TO GOODWILL'S RECYCLING CENTER.

SPECIALTY BUYERS PURCHASE IN BULK.

ONE WILL BUY HATS, AND OTHER WIRES TO BE STRIPPED OF THEIR COPPER.

THERE'S EVEN A STUFFED ANIMAL BUYER WHO SHAVES TEDDY BEAR OF THEIR DIRTY FOR AND SET SOME UP FOR RESALE IN ARCADE CALL MACHINES.

THE LEFTOVER CLOTHES ARE COMPRESSED INTO THOUSANDS OF POUND BALES AND STACKED.

THEY MAY BE USED TO STUFF CUSHIONS OR GET EXPORTED ABROAD.

IT'S JUST A SMALL SLICE OF GLOBAL SECONDHAND MARKET.

ONE THAT ADAM SAYS YOUNG AMERICANS ARE INCREASINGLY PARTICIPATING IN.

>> THERE'S NO QUESTION THERE'S A GENERATIONAL SHIFT.

THERE'S ALL KINDS OF CONSUMER SURVEY DATA SHOWING YOUNGER CONSUMERS LIKE GEN Z, STARTING WITH GEN Z PRIMARILY ARE OPEN TO THIS IDEA OF USE AND REUSE.

>> THAT IS A BIG CHANGE FROM THE STIGMA OF THE PAST.

>> MY GRANDMOTHER WAS A DEPRESSION BABY.

SHE WOULD SHOP AT GOODWILL, EVEN WHEN SHE HAD ENOUGH IN HER POCKET.

WHEN I WOULD TELL PEOPLE, I'M GOING TO GOODWILL WITH MY GRANDMOTHER, YOU COULD SORT OF SEE THE SIDE EYES GLANCED -- THAT'S A PLACE WHERE POOL PEOPLE SHOP.

-- POOR PEOPLE SHOP.

THEY GO TO THE THRIFT SHOP.

>> IS THIS RECENT UPTICK MAKING IN AT ALL IN TERMS OF AMERICA?

>> I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS MAKING MUCH OF A DENT IN THE CONSUMPTION OF NEW THINGS.

WHAT PEOPLE WANT WHEN THEY GO SHOPPING AS THEY WANT TO SEE THAT THERE'S 10 OF THAT BLUE BLOUSE IN VARIOUS SIZES THAT I CAN TRY ON.

IT IS FUN TO GO TO THE THRIFT SHOP AND SEE ONLY ONE AND MAYBE BUT IT'S NOT WHAT MOST PEOPLEOU.

ULTIMATELY ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> BUT THRIFT STORES ARE NOT THE ONLY OPTION ANYMORE.

HE SAYS BIG BRANDS LIKE PATAGONIA AND SUPER STORES LIKE WALMART HAVE BEGUN OFFERING SECONDHAND OPTIONS ON THEIR WEBSITES.

>> THIS IS PART OF A MASS CONSUMER SHIFT THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY GOING TO HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

BUT I DO THINK WE ARE SEEING A CHANGE.

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE SECONDHAND, USED CLOTHING AS A BIGGER PART OF THE OVERALL APPAREL RETAIL CHAIN.

>> I CAN IMAGINE THAT INCENTIVIZES MANUFACTURERS OR BRANDS TO MAKE THINGS THAT ARE MADE TO LAST BECAUSE THEY CAN PROFIT FROM IT LASTING LONGER.

>> THAT IS WHAT'S SO EXCITING ABOUT THIS.

ONCE THESE BRANDS RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE BUYING AND SELLING, INTERESTED IN BUYING AND SELLING USED GARMENTS, THEY NOT ONLY WANT TO GET INVOLVED, BUT THEY WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT THEY CAN MONETIZE THAT VALUE BUT.

IT'S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS, BUT IT'S GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

THE LONGER THE CLOTHES LAST, THE LESS IMPACT THEY HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> BACK AT RISD, HE CONTINUES TO SEW AND THRIFT.

BUT AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS, HIS NO NEW CLOTHES STREAK CAME TO AN END.

>> I THINK I BROKE IT FOR DRESS SOCKS, ACTUALLY.

[LAUGHTER] I HAD TO GET SOME NEW DRESS SOCKS.

JUST SHY OF ABOUT A YEAR AND THREE QUARTERS.

>> AND SOCKS WERE NOT THE ONLY CHALLENGE.

>> UNDERWEAR, THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DID END THE NO BUYING NEW CLOTHES.

I DID A COUPLE EXPERIMENTS WITH BUYING OLD T-SHIRTS AND SEWING NEW UNDERWEAR, BUT I NEVER QUITE GOT THE HANG OF IT, SO UNDERWEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THINGS LIKE ELASTIC, WHICH IS REALLY TRICKY FOR ME, I THINK I NEED A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME AND PRACTICE.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYONE BLAMES YOU FOR THAT ONE.

>> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO PREPARE NOT TO PICK UP A NEEDLE AND THREAD, ADAM HAS SOME SUGGESTIONS.

WHAT'S YOUR SHORT TAKE ON WHAT'S THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO BE A CONSUMER OF FLUIDS?

>> THE MOST RESPONSIBLE -- OF CLOTHES?

>> THE MOST RESPONSIBLE IS BY SECONDHAND BUT SOONER OR LATER WE ARE GOING TO WANT TO BUY NEW STUFF.

DON'T FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT.

WHEN YOU BUY NEW STUFF, BUY QUALITY.

STUFF THAT IN YOUR MIND CAN BE HANDED DOWN TO SOMEONE ELSE'S KID OR DONATED TO THE GOODWILL OR SOLD.

BUY DURABILITY STUFF THAT CAN BE REUSED AND FEED THAT SECONDHAND ECONOMY.

>> A LITTLE DIRTY IN SOME SPOTS.

>> IT IS A CONCEPT HE IS TRYING TO WARM UP TO.

>> I'M DEFINITELY NOT SO STRICT ANYMORE.

EVERYONE ONCE IN A WHILE THAT I NEED SOMETHING AND DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO MAKE IT, AND CAN'T FIND IT, FIT IT AND REPAIR IT, THEN I WILL GO AND GET SOMETHING YOU.

-- SOMETHING NEW.

IT IS THE LAST RESORT, IF ALL MY OTHER THINGS DON'T WORK OUT.

>> THE FIGHT AGAINST TEXTILE WASTE CONTINUES IN NEW ENGLAND, THE MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION BANNED THE DISPOSAL OF OLD CLOTHING.

RESIDENTS ARE NOW REQUIRED TO DONATE OR RECYCLE THEM.

FINALLY, WE HERE HAVE SOME VERY EXCITING NEWS TO SHARE.

OUR COLLEAGUE AND FRIEND PAMELA WATTS WAS JUST HONORED BY THE NEW ENGLAND CHECK OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES, WINNING A SILVER CIRCLE AWARD.

IT RECOGNIZES AN ELITE GROUP OF BROADCASTERS WHO HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO TELEVISION FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS.

GUESTS WERE TREATED TO A VIDEO SHOWING PAMELA'S CAREER HIGHLIGHTS, INCLUDING SOME SERIOUS AND NOT SO SERIOUS MOMENTS.

TONIGHT, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH YOU.

♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WILL COME RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> PAMELA WATTS.

A VETERAN JOURNALIST AND FIXTURE ON SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND TELEVISION.

SHE IS A BELOVED HOMETOWN FAVORITE.

PAMELA GREW UP IN RHODE ISLAND, WENT TO COLLEGE THERE, AND HAS ALWAYS CALLED IT HOME.

EVEN EARLY ON, SHE HAD THE INSTINCT TO SPOT A NEWSMAKER.

RHODE ISLANDERS FIRST HEARD PAMELA ON THE RADIO STATION, THEN SHE WAS HIRED BY A LOCAL RADIO, STARTING PROFESSIONALLY AT AGE 19.

IN 1983, SHE MADE HER DEBUT IN TELEVISION NEWS AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL'S GROUNDBREAKING LOCAL CABLE NEWS, COVERING NEW BEDFORD, FALL RIVER, AND DARTMOUTH.

>> THIS IS WLNA NEWS.

>> I'M PAMELA WATTS.

HERE IS WAS HAPPENING ON THIS SUNDAY NIGHT.

>> BY THE NEXT YEAR, SHE WAS AN ANCHOR AND REPORTER AT CHANNEL 6 IN PROVIDENCE.

>> AN AMERICAN WARSHIP IS HIT IN THE PERSIAN GULF.

GOOD EVENING.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A 15 YEAR RUN AT THE STATION.

PAMELA LAUNCHED CHANNEL SIX'S MORNING NEWSCAST.

SHE ALSO HELPS CREATE THE STATION'S 6 LIVE AT 5:00 BROADCAST, AND SHE BECAME KNOWN FOR HER ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS WITH THE DAY'S NEWSMAKERS.

HER SKILLS SOON EARNED HER THE ANCHOR CHAIR OF THE STATION'S MAY NEWSCAST AT 6:00 AND 11:00 P.M. AND SHE WAS AWARDED AN ENEMY FOR THE BEST ANCHOR IN NEW ENGLAND TWICE -- AN EMMA FOR THE BEST ANCHOR IN NEW ENGLAND TWICE.

IN A BUSINESS KNOWN FOR SHARP ELBOWS, PAM REALLY WAS THAT NICE.

BUT ALL THOSE YEARS AT CHANNEL 6 WERE JUST THE BEGINNNG.

>> FROM EYEWITNESS NEWS, THIS IS HIGH-SPEED NEWS ON WPRI.COM.

♪ >> THE NEXT CHAPTER BROUGHT HER TO WPRI TV CHANNEL 12 WHERE SHE ANCHORED THE MORNING AND NOON NEWSCASTS, AND MORE ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS.

>> IT'S BEEN NOTED POLITICAL PUNDITS HAVE BEEN A LOT TOUGHER ON YOU THAN THEY HAVE BEEN ON YOUR OPPONENTS.

THAT'S GOT TO STING, ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?

>> PAMELA'S WARMTH CAME THROUGH THE CAMERA, AND OF COURSE, HER FLAWLESS PROFESSIONALISM.

>> HELLO.

>> I'M PAMELA WATTS.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ >> HELLO.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN'T DO IT.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ [LAUGHTER] >> PAMELA WENT ON TO LAUNCH RHODE ISLAND'S FIRST NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO STATION, THE LAST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO GET ITS OWN AFFILIATE.

AND THROUGHOUT HER CAREER, SHE IS USED HER PLATFORM ON BEHALF OF LOCAL CHARITIES, HELPING TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR WORTHY CAUSES.

TODAY, PAMELA'S COANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT FOR RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY ON WSBE TV ON PROVIDENCE, A MAGAZINE SHOW WITH LONGFORM STORYTELLING.

>> THREATENED ME -- >> DEATH THREATS?

>> YES, PEOPLE SAYING, HE NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

>> HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU FIRST REALIZED, I'M NOT A GIRL?

>> PROBABLY AT FOUR YEARS OLD.

>> WITH RHODE ISLAND PBS, PAMELA'S CAREER HAS COME FULL CIRCLE, SHE BEGAN IN RHODE ISLAND AND CONTINUES IN RHODE ISLAND.

AND NOW SHE IS WELCOME TO THE EMMY'S SILVER CIRCLE.

IT'S RECOGNITION OF PAMELA'S NATURAL NEWS AND STINKS, CHARM, AND GOODNESS UNDER PRESSURE, AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS PROFESSIONALISM.

>> HELLO.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

[LAUGHTER] I CAN'T DO IT.

I DON'T THINK I CAN DO IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> I'LL DO IT ALONE.

[LAUGHTER] >> I TRIED.

I TRIED.

THAT TIME, I SWEAR.

[LAUGHTER] ♪ >> THAT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO, PAMELA.

CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU ARE EXTREMELY DESERVING OF THAT RECOGNITION.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> I LOVE SEEING YOUR HAIRSTYLES OVER THE YEARS.

>> THANKS FOR PRODUCING THAT VIDEO.

>> THANK YOU, MICHELLE, THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR TEAM HERE AT RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, ONWARD TO THE NEXT CHAPTER IN OUR STORY.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> AND I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO SEE OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AOR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

[CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]