Guide For Fashion Students Committed To Sustainability

 

 

Studying fashion design can be very exciting, but what can we do to make this four-year journey in universities more sustainable? We look at the subjects in which there is more waste and suggest ways to twist the situation. If you are interested in furthering your knowledge outside of universities, then keep reading our guide for fashion students committed to sustainability!

 

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Sustainability has entered fashion universities in recent years in a theoretical way, but how can we put it into practice? What benefits does this have to offer us, and how can we share it with others? These bits of advice can prevent a burn-out at halfway. Basically, the best advice is to find good friendships that support you during the experience. However, if you can give yourself the extra push to succeed, you’ll be able to genuinely enjoy your learning. But every single one needs to find one's values. You’ll find out that your identity as a designer can also be found in your daily behaviours. Building up your independence is key for finding your passion inside the industry; why not start with these habits?

 
 
 
 

BEYOND UNIVERSITIES

What is studied in class is an established plan so that we all have the same base of knowledge. This is necessary, but you can grow it into greatness by finding ways to augment this content. Google the best books on your favourite subject, visit museums regularly, discard things you’re not interested in anymore. Jump fearless to the next topic!

The best option is focusing on a specific interest, but there is no rush for that: everyone finds it in their own time. Be it the environment, social, economic, or any other agenda, take your own initiative. Don't get overwhelmed! It's time to experiment and discover your passions. Have fun!

Saying this, don’t worry if you haven’t got to this point yet. You can get some diverse ideas in our list of 10 eco-conscious documentaries you have to watch. Not only for information, but also for inspiration and self-knowledge: who knows what mysteries may emerge from each one? Make a mental note of your new doubts and discover their answers: enjoy searching for information.

Overall, be curious and open to change. Henceforth, enjoy yourself having interesting talks with your classmates, other acquaintances, attending conferences, watching crazy movies. And, in case you’re more into technical knowledge of sewing and pattern making, you can also find incredible books to be the best in class! There are great teachers among the pages!

 
 

DESIGNWISE

Design might be the main character in the whole degree. In effect, it’s the most enjoyable subject for most students from the beginning.  If you don’t know how to start, how about starting a challenge? For example, you can train yourself in zero-waste design. It’s a complicated, non-ordinary technique that will bring the opportunity to present unique, outstanding shapes and structures. Let's take universities to the next level!

Equally important, shall we talk about fabrics and spec sheets. If the zero-waste design is not for you, you can totally reach sustainability through a fabric design. Textile manipulation is one of the most valuable inputs in the design process. It diminishes the opportunity to be copied and mass-produced and adds up emotional value to the final piece. This last concept is the main aspect of long-lasting pieces, which are considered to be sustainable fashion’s supreme aspiration. As long as you compensate for the waste that the project would produce, it’s all beneficial. You can consider reducing your carbon footprint by fitting the maximum technical content into the fewer pages possible and bringing your own recycled pages to the copy shop to print.

By all means, try to share materials with others to spend less money and be environmentally harmless.

 
 
 

FASHION ILLUSTRATION

Because the technology has been integrated into the industry perfectly well, digital illustration is a common technique. Nonetheless, it requires some expensive devices that not everyone can afford, not even some universities. If you’re more onto the classic technique side, consider the following tips for this subject.

In terms of the material we use as support, there’s not much we can do to avoid the environmental impact. Just buying the exact watercolour paper we need and taking the maximum profit they can have, for example. But we can make a change in the paint buying. Lots of pens, markers, watercolour containers and so on, give the opportunity to be refilled. Altogether, you’ll end up saving money and reducing packaging waste to the planet. Fuller wallet, poorer dump!

 
 

PATTERN MAKING

First, let’s say something that may look contradictory for a moment: try to sketch out your patterns in mini-scale, on a paper apart. Just before making it properly sized. Maybe you’ll think, well, wouldn’t I be wasting more paper this way? But the truth is that you wouldn’t believe the amount of paper waste that a minor mistake can create. Meters of paper crumpled into a ball and thrown away for not having anticipated steps necessary for the pattern. Multiply this with all the design universities and get an idea! But you can avoid that if you use one single piece of paper to create your pattern and prevent possible mistakes that have no way back.

Second, try to have your base patterns on clean, stiff support. It’s hard to transport, but you’ll save time and paper if you just trace it on a pattern paper the day before going to your class. If you forget yours, just ask someone else to borrow their base, and you won’t have to create the same on a new paper sheet.

Third, try your best to use the fabric stock you already have. Make patterns that can then be sewed in the fabrics you own. You can make a huge impact!

 
 
 

TRANSPORT TO THE UNIVERSITIES

For students who live in poorly communicated areas far from universities, we have some ideas you may haven’t considered. If you’re one of them, and you have a driving licence, put on a taxi cap! Driver’s uniforms are never out of style and always good-looking, aren’t they? Seriously, car sharing is the most modern way to deal with the carbon footprint and the price of fuel. It’s not like you have to be your friend’s chauffeur, but it’s an economical way of sharing long drives.

If you’re not going to be the driver, be the one who creates the group for it. Don’t let the chance go! It can be a fun way to start the day and make good friends. If you can’t find this group, try online car-sharing platforms.

In case you go by yourself to the college and back, it would be helpful for you to stay with some friends for a sleepover. Try it once a week; you’ll feel it in your wallet and the planet will feel it in the air. While you’re together, you can cook your eco-friendly breakfast and lunch for the next day. Do you see? All these plans can help you create strong and long-lasting relationships which, as we said above, are the most important piece in your academic experience! Knowledge and friendships are what you will take from universities for the rest of your life.