“To eliminate the concept of waste means to design things…from the very beginning on the understanding that waste does not exist.”—William McDonough and Michael Braungart (104)
Millions of textile scraps enter landfills as more and more clothing is produced. 1 Timo Rissanen, a zero-waste pioneer, educator, and designer indicates that despite the fashion industry’s strife for maximum efficiency in material use, only about 80-90% of fabric is used. 2 Rissanen designs and creates garments that utilize 100% of the fabric and generates no fabric waste. Below is a Hoodie pattern Rissanen created and constructed.
Timo Rissanen, Zero-Waste Hoodie 2009
Inspired by the work of zero-waste pioneer Timo Rissanen, Susan Avila’s Design 170 Experimental Fashion class created zero-waste garments from about 1 yard of digitally printed fabric. Students drew inspiration from photographs taken on the UC Davis campus. Images ranged from redwoods in the Arboretum to abstracted images of the sewing lab floor. The cost of these personalized fabric prints ranged from $40-80, which further encouraged students to use all of their fabric.
Students began by creating three small mock-ups for their wooden mannequins. They experimented with different silhouettes to create shirts, jackets, pants, and dresses.
Left: Gabriela Mendez, Desiree Cox, David Lee (Front to Back)
Right: Antonia Huang
Nidia Trejo Dress; Original Photograph: Bicycles
These wonderful projects exemplify creative, sustainable student work that contributes to innovate zero-waste fashion developments.
Helen Trejo
After deciding which silhouette and design would suit the zero-waste project best, students finalized their designs to create full-scale mock-ups.
Left: Desiree Cox
Right: Nidia Trejo, Kim Ju, Charlotte Pong
Anxious to begin their final garments after the mock-up critique, students printed, steamed, and washed their fabrics. They began to work diligently on their zero-waste projects.
Right: Heidi Lo draping small embellishments
Ophelia Song sewing
These are their final garments!
Kim Ju Jacket; Original Photograph: Sewing lab floor
Charlotte Pong Transformable Dress; Original Photograph: Co-Ho Stained Glass Windows
Haley Gilhooly Shirt; Original Photograph: Redwood Tree in Arboretum
Theron Brown Vest; Original Graphic Design
Courtney Siperstein-Cook Dress; Original Photograph: Heather Flowers
James Choi Shirt; Original Photograph: Windows of UCD Library
Olufunmilayo Alabi Dress; Original Photograph: Ceiling of Mondavi Center
Arleen Fung jacket; Original Photograph: Close up of Walker Hall Window
Julie Her Shirt; Original Photograph: Crochet Ornaments on a Tree Near Silo
Rebecca Price Shirt/Dress; Original Photograph: Bicycles
Kathleen Dycaico Jacket; Original Photograph: Redwood Tree
Heidi Lo Jacket; Original Photograph: Wood Chips
David Lee Dress; Original Photograph: Rose
Ophelia Song Shirt with Hood; Original Photograph: Leaves
Gabriela Mendez Shirt/Dress; Original Photograph: Ladybugs in Arboretum
Antonia Huang Jacket; Original Photograph: Leaves
Nidia Trejo Dress; Original Photograph: Bicycles
Jennifer Ma Romper; Original Photograph: Rose
Helen Trejo Jacket; Original Photograph: Brick Stairs
These wonderful projects exemplify creative, sustainable student work that contributes to innovate zero-waste fashion developments.
1. McDonough, W. & Braungart M. (2002). Cradle to Cradle. New York: North Point Press.
2. Hethorn, J., Ulasewicz C., eds. (2008) Sustainable Fashion. Why Now? New York: Fairchild Books, Inc. (186-206)
