Closing the Gap Between Sustainability and Fashion

The purpose of this project/thesis is to create an apparel line that meets the needs of fashion and sustainable consumers. This thesis defines sustainable fashion, addresses the environmental impact of the garment lifecycle, analyzes environmental products in apparel, critiques current sustainable fashion brands, and presents consumer demand for sustainable fashion. Apparel and textiles are designed to meet the aesthetic demands of innovative fashion consumers. The collection consists of 100% recycled materials, pre-production waste, post-production waste, and post-consumer waste. A combination of natural dyes, water-based screen printing, and digital printing are used to produce textile designs. This collection is inspired by radiation leaking into the Pacific Ocean from Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant. The results of this research hope to inspire fashion companies to adopt sustainable practices while encouraging sustainable brands to design innovative apparel that appeals to fashion consumers.