A FASHION FICTION WHERE TEXTILE WASTE BECOMES A VALUABLE RESOURCE AGAIN.
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My first artefact for this work is speculating about a future opportunity for collaborative engagement within the industry. This fiction was made in response to Amy Twigger Holroyds’ ‘Fashion Fictions’, which are mentioned in my research. All ‘Worlds’ are introduced with a ‘What if…’ question to the underlying idea, inspiration and issue. Since twenty worlds have already been published on her website, I was lucky enough to publish my ideas for a World 21.
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WHAT IF TEXTILES COULD LEARN FROM PAPER?
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WORLD 21
In World 21, many have embarked on redesigning little parts of the system and the apparel industry no longer sees textile off-cuts as waste. This world has found intelligent ways to separate fibres into their virgin materials again, and attained an increase in fibre recycling.
By collaborating with other sectors, such as the paper industry, it is now possible to minimise textile waste and create non-woven materials with new uses. A higher material understanding was gained through including waste management practices in the educational system. Having found the definite end of life point of a garment, accomplished a better use of the materials characteristics before it can biodegrade, without having concerns for further harming the environment.
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Textile waste is a known problem of the apparel industry. This fiction in particular targets the off-cuts and threads (pre-consumer waste), that often go right into a waste stream and are either piling up on landfill or get burned. Being identified as ‘waste’ often leaves not much room for imagining other opportunities.
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In times where textiles were rare goods, material was used for a long time, saving as much resources as possible. With industrialisation, the industry was able to produce faster and materials were wasted with less consideration. The art of papermaking inspired me to make use of already wasted resources. To facilitate a true, sustainable change, I am convinced that redesigning a small part of our out-dated system could potentially inspire bigger change within the apparel industry and beyond.