Sustainable Clothing
Fashion/clothing design is a topic to highlight more within the design industry as it underestimated to not having a complex design process yet is revolutionising the aims of manufacturing goods by stepping up in using sustainable processes and materials. It is a completely different discipline from graphics, products and interiors yet it is so relatable.
Is sustainable fashion the future or just a passing by trend?
We can all agree that the lack of sustainability is an on-going issue that everyone is trying to resolve. That there is an up rise in paper straws seen on McDonalds cup with plastic lids and reusable shopping bags to encourage us to use less plastic, yet there is no emphasise in the ever-increasing clothes being manufactured by the dozen every new season.
The main focus to writing the blog about sustainable fashion was after watching the video below:
Fjäll Räven is known to be a well-recognised brand that can be seen on the backs of many students especially for their infamous Kånken backpack available in a wide variety of colours to suite any person’s preference. The price of the product seems to be questionable however the quality does not falter. This emphasises how the design process behind the products goes in depth of thinking about the user as well as the environment.
“What’s so exciting at Fjällräven, is that EnvironmentalStandards isn’t treated as a separate project; it’s at the core of everything we do.” — Christiane Dolva Törnberg, Sustainability Manager
Their philosophy involves solely keeping the design suited for the user by keeping a simple form but reinforces the use of materiality to increase the lifespan. The brand has further expanded into using recycled materials instead of raw in order to cut back on waste being produced. However, all of this means an increase on the final price tag but justifying the price of the product supports the act of being environmentally aware of what is going on within our society.
Fjäll Räven Vision:
https://www.fjallraven.com/about-fjallraven/sustainability/
Another brand that promotes sustainable fashion is Patagonia.
It is an outdoor clothing and equipment company that not only focuses on providing high quality products that provides high performance with long span but also gives back to the environment.
“We’re in business to save our home planet.”
Patagonia promotes to offer their time to give services in order help protect the irreplaceable and also offer a part of their shares of sale for plantations and to give back to the environment. Having a big recognisable brand promoting the giving back to nature and offering high quality and social consicous products is a strong platform to voice out the issues.
Patagonia Vision:
https://www.patagonia.com/company-info.html
As for everyday clothing, brands such as H&M, known for housing a substantial amount of clothing, has now branched into also touching on the sustainable approach into designing environmentally friendly clothing.
They have promoted into helping customers in knowing how to look after clothing and to also be rewarded in being environmentally friendly. H&M have a vision in looking into the use of recycled materials and they can be recycled afterwards; through their conscious line.
H&M Vision:
https://about.hm.com/en/sustainability/vision-and-strategy/goalsandambitions.html
It is evident that the sustainable issue have forced designers to rethink about the design of products that are being released onto markets and efforts are being made replenish was lost.
As a designer, I can personally take motivation from big brands mentioned above for every movement and vision described has critical thinking behind each motive, especially towards the environment we live in.
Coming across the video had influenced how I also approach purchasing items in a consumer’s point of view. To have a good understanding of what I am purchasing before doing so and this is a factor which, as a designer, I should be more conscious of.
Sustainability is design issue that opens discussion on how there is such a lack in design thinking behind products being manufactured and how the eye for money has taken a toll on our environment. Then again the issue reflects on if there is even a need for these products.
Additional:
Sustainable Architecture
As an additional segment to the blog, in relation to the design background of interior, sustainable architecture has also been on the rise as an approach to tackle the environmental problems.
Here is an interesting method being used:
Rammed Earth
The use of compacted earth is a growing method to build homes throughout Africa and is ecological for it uses the combination of different natural earth in order to create structures for homes. This method is also a low cost therefore has great demand throughout the African continent.
The company Hive Earth have taken this approach to build many homes for people in Ghana. Their method in creating the right mixture is by only using 5% cement but some cases it is replaced by lime. As the mixture is completed, it is poured into moulds that create the shape of the structure and left to dry. The final product leaves naturally coloured layers of earth and give a wave pattern. Not only does this give an interesting aesthetic but also has many benefits as it requires minimum maintenance, is free of chemical and also has the properties of keeping the interior cool (removing the need of air-conditioning).
Another inspirational approach Hive Earth has is to also create programmes throughout rural areas to educate young people in universities methods of building to increase employment later in the future.
This is an example of using materiality in a sustainable way; using a material that has multi-functional properties that eliminate the need of other factors that contribute to environmental issues. Working within the interior discipline, this highlights the importance of researching into a wide range of materials that can be used for furnishing and structures for resourcing unstainable materials has a great toll on the environment (especially at a large scale). From reading the article (linked below) had motivated me to encourage others in taking part in design and to also become active in spreading awareness of how use sustainable materials in everyday living.
Full article:
