Overview
The aim of the investigation was to provide the textile value-creation chain with a grid of criteria and to optimize it towards biodegradable materials. Lines of functional fabric samples were developed which manifest lasting aesthetic qualities and are suitable for composting on the one hand and represent a sustainable living environment while also satisfying market requirements on the other.
The vision for “sustainable fashion” elaborated here looks at the product life cycle of clothing, from source materials through production and consumption to eventual disposal or the recycling of textiles into other materials. Product–user interaction is regarded as key to a sustainable use of textiles: it determines the timeframe of how long a textile is used before being disposed by its owner.
At the material level the research results and the vision for “sustainable fashion” sketch out a design language for materials and processing that does justice to the complexity of the development and manufacture of sustainable textiles. These results can be incorporated into future product development processes and put to use in various forms of textile application.
