JD Institute of Fashion Technology
Design Techniques for Lower Environmental Impact

Sustainable design focuses on reducing the negative impact on the environment seen in conventional design methods by reducing the usage of non-renewable resources or minimizing waste. Let’s take a look at the various techniques, processes or strategies in designing products to have a low environmental impact:

• Zero-waste Pattern Cutting

Zero waste reflects a technique in which textile waste is eliminated at the stage of designing. According to an estimate, around 15-20% of the textiles which are intended for clothing ends up on the cutting floor. The approach of zero waste can be obtained by knowing the exact dimensions for sourcing your textile. You can work out the pattern with the help of draping as well.

• Minimum Seam Construction

This technique focuses on reducing the number of seams that are required to sew a garment together. It helps in making the manufacturing process much faster and in saving materials. It allows the garment to have much greater freedom of movement and more comfort for the person wearing it.

• Upcycling

Upcycling as the name suggests is a technique in which by-products or disguised materials are made into something new or are recycled into something of better quality or value. Recycling the existing materials helps to save energy, water, chemicals or other sources which are required to make new materials.

You can use deadstock fabric, vintage clothing which you repurpose etc in case of fashion. However, finding factories that deal with upcycling work can be a bit challenging.

• Design for Disassembly

In this technique, each product is designed in such a way that once the life of the product ends it can easily be taken apart to recycle the materials or reuse them. This implies that the product will be easier to assemble or will contain fewer materials, cutting the cost of it and saving the product’s environmental footprint which makes it a smart design.

• Transformational 

Transformational strategy refers to designing products for multiple usages. In fashion, multi-functional garments are often seen such as reversible jacket or garments that can be worn in different ways

• Design Reflecting Longevity

This may sound like a common approach however even the smallest choices can change the direction of how long a product will last. There are numerous reasons due to which people discard their clothing such as fitting issues, fabric quality etc. The best approach you can take is to design products that last longer or can be reused/passed on to another.

• Craft Preservation 

Old or ancestral techniques can be preserved by including them in modern techniques i.e preservation through innovation. For example- using special traditional embroidery creatively etc.

The fashion industry encompasses designing, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, retailing, etc, and is one of the biggest industries with the neck-to-neck competition, however, if you possess the passion for it, you can make it big by just applying your creativity in unique ways. The first step towards a successful career in fashion designing is learning or Education from the best fashion designing colleges such as JD Institute Of Fashion Technology (which is one of the oldest premium institution in India or reflects a legacy of 30 years with an ambition of setting up a commanding association of students to turn their ideas or dreams into a reality) which is dedicated specially for the studying of art and design spectrum providing fashion designing course etc with each course being industry-based providing the necessary skills, exposure, and making them ready for the tough competition in the real world in reasonable fashion designer course fees as it shares the vision of providing the latest resources, technology, infrastructure etc so that no external barrier can stop them from making it big in their fields or so that they can stand shoulder to shoulder with the top layer of designers etc. due to their exemplary contribution to education, JD Institute has been granted with numerous token of admiration such as the times power icon award, international glory award, head in education award, best skill learning for fashion design in India at the Indian Education awards and many more. They reflect a record-breaking placement of 99% as well ensuring that talent meets opportunity with their students working for top companies like Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Sabyasachi, Pepperfry and making a mark in the industry such as Urvashi Kaur, Maheka Mirpuri, Rocky S, Shane Peacock, etc. the right opportunity is waiting for you, enroll now!