Do you know how big of a role the fashion industry plays in the world economy? According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the fashion industry generates 1.3 trillion USD annually and employs more than 300 million people.
With such a massive influence, fashion plays a large role in helping build a more eco-friendly future. Today’s fashion students and school curriculum make it a priority to focus on environmentally friendly and zero-waste fashion design practices. Let’s learn a little more about the importance of teaching these sustainable skills and real examples of students bringing these practices into play.
The Need for Sustainability in the Fashion Industry
Environmental Impact of Fashion Industry
When it comes to the fashion industry and its environmental impacts, the numbers truly speak for themselves. According to the Geneva Environment Network, the fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water and is responsible for 2-8% of global carbon emissions.
In addition, fast fashion has become a buzzword recently, with the slow fashion movement needed more than ever. Compared to the year 2000, people bought 60% more garments in 2014, but only used them for half as long (McKinsey & Company, 2016). According to UNECE, 85% of all textiles also go to the dump, which is equivalent to one garbage truck full of clothes burned or dumped in a landfill every second (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017).
Fashion’s environmental impact isn’t just related to the after-life of garments, but also the process of making clothes and the materials they are made from. According to UNEP, approximately 60% of all materials used by the fashion industry are made of plastic. Through excessive water usage in the production stage, the industry is also responsible for around 20% of industrial wastewater pollution worldwide (World Bank, 2020).
Consumer Demand for Sustainable Products
It’s apparent that more sustainable garments are needed to help decrease these current standings – and consumers would agree. Recently, there has been a shift in sustainability being just a “nice to have” benefit to now influencing buyer habits.
According to HBR, trust plays a big part for consumers, and by brands focusing on sustainability, they are building this trust. Gen Z is 27% more likely to purchase from a brand that cares about people and the planet. Not to mention, over the past few years, there has been a 71% rise in online searches for sustainable goods globally, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit.
Core Principles of Sustainable Fashion Design
Understanding Sustainable Materials
Since the demand for sustainable garments is high, how do current and future fashion designers incorporate sustainable practices? It starts with learning about materials, fabrics, and textiles through fashion designer education.
According to Sustainable Jungle, “sustainable textiles minimize the impact of its conventional alternatives, through organic and chemical-free farming, use of recycled materials, circular manufacturing processes, and sustainable prospects for end-of-life disposal.” Examples of sustainable materials include: organic cotton, recycled cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo linen, and cork.
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to biodegradable fabrics, and expertise in the space is always evolving and growing, which is why the incorporation of sustainable discussions in today’s fashion classes is so important.
According to a RMCAD professor, students in her classroom “can decide to use textiles that are compostable or biodegradable fabrics, such as natural fibers or biotextiles, or use deadstock fabrics or vintage materials to divert from landfills.”
Lifecycle Analysis in Fashion
In addition to understanding materials, it’s also important for designers to learn and understand the lifecycle of fashion. Masterclass states that the current cycle includes Introduction, Increase, Peak, Decline, and Obsolescence. Although a garment or clothing item may reach the obsolescence stage, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the clothing trend is gone forever, which is why we tend to see a lot of older styles resurface later down the line.
As a designer, it’s important to learn and understand the cycle, but most importantly make smart calls to not chase “fads” or fast fashion trends. Trends are usually short-lived and end up not being worth the pursuit, but rather it’s better to focus on ways to support the slow fashion movement.
Integrating Sustainability into Fashion Education
Curriculum Development
At RMCAD, the Fashion Design program, offered both on campus and online, ensures that sustainable and zero-waste fashion design practices and lessons are incorporated into the curriculum. Students develop solutions to challenge existing concepts through the effective use of sustainable strategies and industry-specific technologies.
Hands-On Learning with Sustainable Practices
Students in RMCAD’s fashion design program can take the following sustainable fashion courses: Intro to Sustainable Fashion Design, Introduction to Textiles + Materials, Ethical Fashion Practices, Sustainable Construction Techniques, and Sustainable Material + Fashion Strategies.
In the Introduction to Sustainable Fashion course, students learn about the philosophy of sustainable design and are taught design approaches and methods that comply with the principles of social, economic, and ecological sustainability in the design of textiles and products. They examine the challenges of sustainable apparel design, assess the environmental impact of material production and resource collection, and research social change strategies for designing ‘green’.
In the Introduction to Textiles + Materials course, sustainable alternatives are touched on in the course. Students get to preview innovative and sustainable developments in the materials of the future, which is later expanded upon in future classes.
For a full overview of RMCAD’s sustainable fashion courses, please visit here.
Case Studies: Showcasing Sustainable Practices Outside of the Classroom
RMCAD Student Spotlight
A few students at RMCAD took the skills from their sustainable fashion courses and implemented them outside of the classroom in a local fashion show. Grayson Nite and Ann Moorman participated in Meow Wolf’s first-ever in-house fashion show, called “Absolute Rubbish: A Trashion Show” in September 2023.
The theme of the show was to collide innovation and sustainability in a dazzling display of avant-garde looks. The show featured 20 local designers who shared their unique recycled and upcycled creations.
Moorman shared, “I really feel like my 3D Design class at RMCAD prepared me well for this project because we had to work with materials like rebar and tie wire. It was challenging to be able to think about how the different pieces would look together in a 3D space with recyclable materials.”
Innovations from New Designers
RMCAD alumni have also been spotted showcasing their unique skills locally. Zach Mick was recently named an “emerging designer” in Denver’s 303 Magazine. He participated in Denver’s Fashion Week in 2024 and showcased unique materials in his designs like bendable wood and water in vinyl. Mick’s innovative approach made him a standout designer and competitor.
The Future of Fashion Design Education
Trends and Innovations in Sustainable Fashion
Innovations in sustainable fashion are just beginning, and there’s so much more ingenuity and progress on the horizon. With more designers learning these practices, it means increased opportunities for unique ideas and advancements in the future.
A few sustainable fashion trends developing in the industry now include biotechnology in textile production and augmented reality (AR) in the design process.
According to Infinita Biotech, biotechnology in textile production can allow designers and manufacturers to utilize natural, organic components to make stronger, better, and more sustainable textiles. It doesn’t just help from a sustainable perspective, but overall it’s also making better fabric, so a win-win on all fronts.
When it comes to AR technology in fashion design, this helps by allowing designers the opportunity to showcase work virtually and make adjustments prior to building from scratch, which helps to eliminate material waste.
For a full look at new technological advancements within the fashion industry, check out Technology Meets Textiles: The Future of Fashion Design.
Building Industry Partnerships
The future of sustainable fashion is also not just dependent on the fashion industry itself, but a lot of other industries as well. Collaboration and partnership is a big key to success in the implementation of sustainable practices.
A few examples of industries that are crucial to the change are agriculture, supply chain management, and data sharing.
Forbes shares, “The challenges the industry needs to solve are simply too complex and too overwhelming for any one organization to achieve alone. By eliminating carbon emissions across the fashion supply chain, total global carbon emissions could be reduced by up to 8%. {However} the key to this is having reliable data to identify the sources of those emissions and report them accurately. And that’s not easy to do because most emissions originate not within fashion companies themselves, but further up the supply chain.” This just shows the power that collaboration could bring to help make these sustainable changes.
Are you interested in joining the fashion industry and becoming a sustainable designer?
Start your fashion designer education today and learn sustainable and zero-waste fashion design practices that can help lead the charge for more sustainability in the fashion industry. Apply today to join RMCAD’s Fashion Design program, available on campus or online.
