New Sustainable Fashion Design Scenarios
A Designer Journey in Textile Experimentation with Plants
Nicla Guarino (Politecnico di Milano)
S. Parisi (TU Delft - Materials and Manufacturing)
Valentina Rognoli (Politecnico di Milano)
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Abstract
The complex age we live in, characterised by the Anthropocene era and Industry 4.0, demands a radical paradigm shift in production, consumption, material choices, and, consequently, the relationship between designers and Nature.
In this scenario, the clothing industry is clearly in the spotlight for being one of the most significant contributors to global environmental disasters and resource depletion. Thus, now more than ever, it is time to promote an imperative change in the fashion system towards circularity and regeneration.
This chapter presents an updated and articulated state of art describing the strong bond between designers and Nature in the fashion field. Specifically, the analysis highlights inspiring and promising examples from design research and practice in relation to Biomimesis, particularly focusing on the integration of plants into the process.
To show the potential of Living and Growing Design in the clothing field, a case study of an experimentation journey undertaken by a fashion design practitioner is illustrated, analysing its use of textiles as substrates for seedlings.
Through the MDD method, the DIY-Materials approach and Tinkering activities, the current research employs seeds, plants and bio-based materials as tangible tools to enable an emotional connection between users and their garments. The study produced theoretical and practical outputs: a material library, a speculative fashion collection, and an open-source manual for DIY experimentation and testing. These outcomes aim to inspire designers to care for their artefacts and foster a renewed connection with Nature.