Fashion is in a
state of constant flux. What is popular in fashion changes continually. Thus
the fashion industry causes strain on natural resources. Typically, Fashion and
sustainability do not coincide. However, they need not conflict. Change is
something that should be celebrated and not condemned. Changes encourages
creativity and new solutions, its what keeps our design world alive. The
continually changing fashion industry creates a constant flow of money and
employment. Change allows us to adapt to our environment, instead of using out
of date ideas and opinions. A design industry without change would not only be
dull, but damaging to both the environment and mankind.
However a
continuously changing fashion industry can create shallow values. We expect
newness and easily bore of garments after just a few months. ‘Clothing sales
have increased by 60% in the last ten years.’ (Oakdene Hollins, 2006) One of
TED’s 10 strategies is to ‘Design to Replace the Need to Consume.’ The value of garments are usually based
on their aesthesis. By taking small evolutionary steps we can shift this value
to the quality and ethical construction of products. The idea of sustainable
design is much like the fashion industry. Our tries at sustainability will not
be perfect initially; instead constant change will perfect our ideas. Sustainability
needs constant refinement and therefore needs constant change, much like the fashion
industry.
S. Walker. Sustainable By Design. Earthscan. 2006.
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