How Can Fashion Design Students Help Fix the Textile Waste Crisis?
Through a new sustainability course, they become part of the solution.
An interdisciplinary textile project tackles fashion’s environmental footprint head-on.
The fashion industry—fueled primarily by the rise of fast fashion—has a staggering impact on the planet. The industry generates enough textile waste to fill the Mall of America every six days, according to the Public Interest Research Group.
Undergraduate and graduate students from the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce recently developed solutions to improve these practices and move the industry toward more sustainable, circular textile systems. The project was sponsored by WM (formerly Waste Management) and supported by EON, a digital ID and technology service provider.
“Textile recycling is an important part of WM’s commitment to advancing sustainability and circularity,” says Raymond Randall, WM’s senior manager of textiles. “This grant project provided an opportunity for WM and EON to find intersections of learning for students to increase awareness around this topic. The volume of textile generated is both high and growing rapidly, increasing the need to retain the economic and environmental value of the materials.”
The interdisciplinary project tasked teams of eight students from different programs, including fashion design, textile design, textile product science, textile technology, visual communication design, and fashion merchandising and management, with creating a product or concept to support the implementation of “digital tagging” for garments. Digital tagging integrates traceable digital identifiers on products to enhance transparency and provide info about their sourcing, production and environmental impact.
“Fashion is often seen as a glamorous industry, but its environmental toll is immense,” says Jaida Perkins, a textile product science student concentrating on sports and high-performance materials. “Our project is about redefining fashion’s footprint and paving the way for a more sustainable future.”
Addressing the Lifecycle of Textiles as a Team
Perkins’ team project revolved around using digital tagging to reduce textile waste and address the evolving needs of manufacturers, end users and end-of-life processors.
“It’s not just about using eco-friendly fabrics,” says Perkins’ teammate, textile technology student Priscilla Boydston. “It’s about addressing every stage of the textile lifecycle, from raw materials to production, distribution and consumer behavior.”
Their team zeroed in on incorporating smart bins—intelligent waste receptacles equipped with sensors for efficient waste management—in residential areas to motivate consumers to recycle their clothing instead of throwing it away. The concept could be applied by companies in the sports and fashion industries, especially those focusing on recycled materials for products like shoes.
Collaboration for Sustainable Change
For Matt Umbriac, academic project coordinator of Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, it wasn’t just the technical aspects of the work that impressed him.
Under the mentorship of professors across Jefferson, students worked together to navigate the complex landscape of the fashion and textile industries. The teams presented their ideas at various project stages with faculty and sponsor representatives who provided feedback, challenged assumptions and offered insights.
“It’s always exciting when we have the opportunity to involve multiple disciplines and work on such a complex and interesting challenge,” Umbriac says. “Each student team came up with unique and viable solutions, and our industry partners provided valuable input at every step in the process.”
Umbriac emphasized the significance of academic-industry collaboration. “This project goes beyond the classroom,” he notes. “It’s a hands-on experience that equips students with the skills and knowledge to drive real change.”
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