Monday 7th November 2022 (chair/facilitator: Dr Kyungeun Sung)
Click here to join the meeting
| 13.00-13.10 UK time | Opening |
| 13.10-13.50 UK time (07.10-07.50 Costa Rica time) | |
| 13.50-14.30 UK time (08.50-09.30 PA, USA time) | 02. Presentation by Donna Maione (20 mins) + Q&A/discussion (20 mins) |
| 14.30-15.10 UK time (08.30-09.10 TX, USA time) | 03. Presentation by Dr Chanjuan Chen (20 mins) + Q&A/discussion (20 mins) |
| 15.10-15.50 UK time (10.10-10.50 Colombia time) | 04. Presentation by Claudia García (20 mins) + Q&A/discussion (20 mins) |
| 15.50-16.00 UK time | Closing |
01. Christopher Brosse cancelled
02. Upcycling Practices: Craft, Repair, Alternative Futures of Clothing
Donna Maione, Carnegie Mellon University, USA
The prevalent design mantra in the clothing industry is “speed to market,” which pushes designers and manufacturers to develop and produce at accelerated speeds in socio-technical regimes. This mentality inhibits further consideration of their actions or exploration of alternative methods toward sustainable practices. If we wish to reverse the destructive nature of clothing manufacturing, designers must slow down the manufacturing process and reduce the wasted materials all along the lifecycle. Despite increased attention to the destructive nature of fashion, there is little momentum in shifting research and development design positions to consider the consequences or to experiment with alternative design processes. This presentation explores the motivations and barriers to textile longevity through post-industrial design and upcycling-making practices through auto-ethnographic research methods. From the standpoint of handcraft, I investigate the interaction between material, tool, and attitude as a foundation for theory development on upcycling for designers and makers seeking to transition to a circular clothing system at various scales. More knowledge dissemination and information flows are needed between scales of making practices to close gaps within and between networks addressing multi-generational materials and product longevity for a sustainable future. Click here to watch the presentation video.
03. Refashion: Teaching the Upcycling Mindset through Community Engagement in an Undergraduate Apparel Design Course
Dr Chanjuan Chen, University of North Texas, USA
Upcycling is a sustainable design approach that provides designers with the opportunity to reassess the value of a discarded material. For fashion businesses, upcycling can help minimize the overall cost of production, while also contributing to environmental issues and appealing to changing consumer attitudes. Educating students on sustainability and upcycling in the fashion industry has increased in importance in recent years, however, more research is critical to creating effective ways to incorporate upcycling in apparel design curriculum. The presentation includes two elements. First, the researcher will share her own design practice of repurposing fashion products into new designs using additive repurposing and intentional patternmaking methods. Second, the presentation will introduce a curriculum example of how upcycling can be incorporated into undergraduate classrooms in apparel design programs. Click here to watch the presentation video.
04. Re-designing the world through upcycling
Claudia García, Distrital University and We Glass project, Colombia
Upcycling is the art of providing a product a second life by upgrading materials and enhancing its value. It is considered today as a key tool for sustainability because it could lead us to reduce the material waste. Although upcycling is not yet a perfect solution, it is an opportunity to re-think how we are designing the world and change the paradigm of production, consumption, and discard. As a citizen of a Latin American country plentiful of natural resources and raw materials, I wonder if Latin American countries could become global players in upcycling and lead the protection of its natural world heritage, bearing in mind the consequences of the over-exploitation that we have faced over the last decades. Research and creativity come to play an essential role here, and upcycling is bringing the possibility to re-think, re-design, and measure the impact of materials. Every day more projects are arising in this field. Some examples are the use of secondhand textiles, plastics, glasses, or rubbers used to create new clothes, buildings, roads, furniture, home supplies, and many other objects of everyday use. There are endless possibilities. But it is crucial to come up with ideas adjusted to the reality and potentials of every place, also being cautious of implementing more suitable techniques that do not create other adverse effects on the environment. Click here to watch the presentation video.