The industry of fashion and design has undergone a tremendous transformation in recent years, driven by a growing awareness of social and environmental concerns. The ecological challenges posed by the growing textile industry have led to sustainable design gaining prominence.
The United Nations stated that the fashion industry produces up to 10% of the global footprint of carbon emissions and another 20% of wastewater on earth. With the increase in fast fashion culture, approximately 92 million tons of waste produced annually are textiles.
However, there is a slow rise in both designers and customers choosing sustainable fashion with the hopes of creating a greener and healthier planet while supporting ethical labour practices. Sustainable Textile Design refers to the ethics and practice of designing to reduce the environmental impact, increase the supply chain ethics, improve working conditions, and promote sustainable living conditions. The approach aims to revolutionize the making of textiles with the goal of minimizing their negative impact on the planet and humans.
Eco-friendly Fabrics:
One of the important elements of sustainable textile design is the usage of fabrics made from natural fibres. Wool, cotton, silkworms, and hemp are cultivated without harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Sustainable fashion involves clothes made from animal skin and clothes, without any cruel means to educate consumers and designers on commercial animal farming and labour exploitation in fashion. Using organic farming methods at various stages of cloth manufacturing also makes the clothes skin-friendly and good for our health in the long term.
Local Sourcing and Production:
Designers often opt for local artisans and designers since they reduce the costs and supply charges when it comes to transportation, support local economies, and preserve traditional craftsmanship. Sustainable textile design provides employment opportunities and a source of income for individuals and communities in the region. This can profoundly impact improving the standard of living and reducing poverty in the area. It also fosters a sense of pride and community involvement among the people involved in the production process. Locally produced materials allow for transparency in decision-making on production processes and materials. This allows consumers to make informed decisions and encourage responsible consumption.
Circular Practices in Sustainable Textile Design
Circular practices in sustainable textile design refer to a set of principles and strategies aimed at reducing the environmental and social impacts of textile production and consumption while promoting longevity, reusability, and responsible resource management. These practices align with the concept of the circular economy, which aims to minimize waste and maximize the use of resources.
Some notable practices involve thrifting, which is gaining popularity amongst the Gen-Z and the millennials owing to the quality of the clothes that customers can purchase at an affordable price.
Thrift stores accept donated clothes in stock and replace them until they are sold out. The people donating these clothes do not receive any monetary benefits in exchange for the clothes.
Reducing Environmental Footprint
Sustainable textile design reduces the overall carbon footprint of the textile industry. Incorporating eco-friendly materials and efficient production techniques minimizes water consumption, chemical pollution, and carbon emissions.
Minimizing the usage of harmful chemicals and dyes and opting for natural dyes reduces carbon emissions during the dyeing and finishing stages. The manufacturers may use renewable energy sources like solar or wind power to run textile mills and factories, reducing carbon emissions associated with fossil fuel-based energy. Hence, sustainable textile design prioritizes energy-efficient production methods.
Donating unwanted clothes
Instead of throwing away or stuffing your wardrobes with unused clothes, choose to donate them. Helping others to be sustainable by investing in your wearable old clothes, rather than buying new ones not only reduces the overall fabric production in our societies but also fosters the idea of sharing.
Incorporating the method of donating one piece every time you buy a new one will promote sustainable textile design.
Organizations like UNICEF, Red Cross accept clothes useful for countries and communities affected by war, winter storms, or other natural disasters. Supporting local charities, missionaries or chapters of the Rotaract Clubs are all ways in which we can become members of the donation drives and volunteerships in our localities.
The Future of Sustainable Textile Design
As consumers and social media are becoming conscious of their choices and the impact it has on the environment, sustainable fashion has become a norm. Fashion brands are in the forefront as proponents of sustainable fashion. The Business of Fashion states that 90% of leaders from the design industry are of the opinion that sustainability and eco-friendly fashion is necessary for the future of the fashion industry. Modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and 3D printing are being used to craft fashion trends and sustainable fashion. Designers and artisans rely on these technologies to produce clothing with minimal carbon emissions and to reduce the overall impact on the planet, apart from the fashion industry. Sustainable Textile Design is a way of life, and a choice that consumers and fashion designers aim to prioritize in the future.
References
- Emeritus.org (2023) What is Sustainable Fashion? Why Does it Matter and How to Achieve it [online]. Available at: https://emeritus.org/blog/sustainability-sustainable-fashion/ [Accessed: 01 September 2023].
- Elledecor.org (2019) These Fabric Manufacturers are saving the world [online]. Available at: https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/g29181046/best-sustainable-eco-friendly-fabrics/ [Accessed: 30 August 2023].
- Vogue.in (2019) Vogue’s ultimate guide to sustainable fashion [online]. Available at: https://www.vogue.in/fashion/content/vogues-ultimate-guide-to-sustainable-fashion [Accessed: 28 August 2023]
