A number of recent studies have documented the views and experiences of wearers as a method of profiling patterns of garment use and care. These findings tell us how wearers…
Abstract
A number of recent studies have documented the views and experiences of wearers as a method of profiling patterns of garment use and care. These findings tell us how wearers engage with garments and, importantly, have unearthed common problems in clothing care, including neglect, abuse and disengagement. Critically these narratives can provide the fashion designer with a fresh perspective on the design of 'meaningful' garments that engage sustainable strategies. Few designers located within micro- or small- to medium-sized fashion companies consider a life cycle approach to the design of fashion garments. Moreover, many do not appear to appreciate the significance of the wearer as a participant in the success of sustainable fashion. Within the design process there is scope for the designer to develop garments that can assist the wearer to extend the life cycle of a garment during the use phase. In acknowledging the use phase as an important area for consideration in the design process, it becomes apparent that the responsibility for the success of sustainable fashion might lie with the designer, the producer, the wearer or all of these. This issue is a key point that will be raised and discussed at intervals throughout the paper.
Details
Keywords
Australians consume twice the global average of textiles and are deeply engaged in a linear take/make/waste fashion model. Furthermore the Australian fashion sector has some…
Abstract
Purpose
Australians consume twice the global average of textiles and are deeply engaged in a linear take/make/waste fashion model. Furthermore the Australian fashion sector has some unique supply chain complications of geographical distances, sparse population and fragmentation in processing and manufacturing. This research aims to examine how Australian fashion small to medium enterprises (SMEs) are overcoming these challenges to run fashion businesses built around core principles of product stewardship (PS) and circularity.
Design/methodology/approach
SMEs make up 88% of the Australian apparel manufacturing sector. This qualitative exploratory study included in-depth interviews with three Australian fashion SMEs engaged in circular design practice, and a focus group of 10 Western Australian fashion advocates of sustainability. Analytic coding and analysis of the data developed eight distinct themes.
Findings
This study examines the barriers to circular economy (CE) that exist in the Australian fashion sector, and maps the practice of Australian SMEs with circular business models in overcoming these barriers. In CE innovation, Australian SMEs may have an advantage over larger fashion companies with more unwieldy structures. Employing design-thinking strategies, Australian SMEs with a foundation of PS and circular purpose are creating new systems of viable closed-loop business models and design processes.
Originality/value
The themes from this research contribute to the limited literature on circular innovation examples that link CE theory with practice in the fashion sector. The model for circularity maps the practice of three SMEs built around core principles of PS and circularity in overcoming the barriers to CE in an Australian context, and may be used as a visual tool in education and understanding.