My year without new fabric changed how I design

I stopped buying new fabric for my projects last year and only used scraps or second-hand materials. This cut costs and felt eco-friendly, but some clients say the designs look less polished. Is the trade-off between sustainability and presentation worth it in fashion design?

3 comments

3 Comments

riverp371mo ago

Oh please, let me guess - those clients think "polished" just means "looks like everything else at the mall". If using scraps makes a design look "sloppy" then maybe their idea of good fashion is just really boring. The trade-off is only a problem if you think being kind to the planet is a bad look. Sounds like you're winning and they just don't get it yet.

milawright1mo ago

Since when did looking like everyone else become good fashion? Using scraps means you're smart with materials, not messy. Too bad they prefer boring over brave.

the_david20d ago

Exactly, riverp37. That polished look they want is just another word for safe and boring. It's wild that caring about waste is seen as a trade-off. Their loss, really. You're doing the actual interesting work.