The Important Role of the Designer

This was the sound advice given by British designer Vivienne Westwood, when she was asked in 2018 about ethical and environmental issues in the fashion industry. It remains equally valid in 2020 and will continue to be the ethical code by which we should shop in the future. People in the textile and apparel industry are well aware of their responsibility to create a more sustainable supply chain, to reduce waste in production processes, and to recycle materials whenever possible. And much of the responsibility for these activities starts with the design team—groups of unsung heroes who have to juggle budgets, logistics, strategic plans, technology, aesthetics, functionality, and so much more. Designing goods for sustainability can mean many things—including: • designing high quality, durable products; • designing products that can be disassembled easily at their end-of-life, so that the materials and components can be easily recycled; • designing products which are made from organic, biodegradable, reclaimed or recycled materials and components; • designing products which generate a minimal amount of waste and pollution during their manufacture; • designing products which can be manufactured using machinery that can run on renewable energy, and consume a minimal amount of water; and • choosing manufacturing locations and distribution methods to minimize carbon emissions.