TEXTILE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT: ADDING VALUE AND UNIQUENESS THROUGH DESIGN

Abstract

The global fashion industry is highly energy-consuming, polluting, and wasteful: both production and consumption. The industry is mainly spurred by small and medium enterprises (SME) which have the competitive advantage of recovering textile solid waste, thus contribute to the slow/eco/sustainable fashion discourse. Fashion design university graduates particularly join the SME sector, either as employees or entrepreneurs. Hence, their engagement in sustainable fashion through course projects positions them as potential change agents in the industry. Upcycling is one of the most sustainable circular solutions in the waste hierarchy. Upcycling requires little energy input and can eliminate the need for a new product. Upcycling involves a substantial amount of creativity and vision, based on a fundamental environmental consciousness. The end result is typically a product/item that is unique and sustainable. This paper presents a project undertaken by the author and undergraduate fashion design and textile technology students aligned with the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE) commemoration of the World Home Economics Day held on 21st March. This year’s theme was ‘Waste Reduction Literacy’. The students and the author interpreted the theme and created apparel, apparel accessories, soft furnishings, and interior accessories from textile solid waste. The effort provided the students with a business opportunity, alternative source of cheaper materials, enriched creativity, and fun. It is critical for higher education institutions offering fashion design programmes to incorporate sustainability in all courses and prepare students to tackle emerging issues in the industry. The faculty too need to keep abreast with sustainable fashion discourse.

Keywords

• disposal
• fashion consumption
• fashion industry
• fashion production
• slow fashion
• upcycle