ABSTRACT
This paper examines the relationship between fabric that is wasted through conventional fashion design and manufacture, and the physical and visual ability of a garment to endure. Research shows that designing garments without creating fabric waste in the process is feasible (Rissanen, 2008), and that design strategies exist to incorporate fabric that is normally wasted ‘back’ into a garment. The need for garment repair can be delayed, and repair as well as later alteration of the garment can be made easier. Strategies that venture beyond merely designing classics also exist that can make the garment more visually durable. Considered fashion design can positively impact on extending the useful life of a fashion garment. In a broader sense, this paper supports a shift from sustainable design to design for sustainability, calling for design that fosters more sustainable lifestyles instead of ‘sustainable’ products.
