Thanks to the success of Reformation, deadstock fabric is a hot topic in the fashion industry right now, and for good reason. Pre-consumer textile waste is at an all time high as is (finally) the conversation around fashion's negative impact on the planet (duh). But there's a MASSIVE problem in deadstock fabric really getting a chance to reduce textile waste and it's this: you are designing wrong for deadstock fabric. We promise you will love this - let's dive in. Traditional Fashion Design is Outdated The design process being taught in fashion schools was implemented hundreds of years ago and has been perfected by capitalism over time.
How To Design for Deadstock Fabric If all design is a challenge, then it's time we start exercising that muscle again, because we will not get new results from old systems and thinking. The alternative would be starting from what we have to work with:
Proof This Process Works : Zero Waste Daniel The deadstock based brand Zero Waste Daniel has been buzzing here in NYC for some time and we wanted to take a moment to feature this method because we think it'll be valuable as you rethink your design process. Scalable Aesthetic from Changing Resources If you view deadstock as a fabric source in an of itself you'll find there actually are patterns that match in order to design and scale. As you can see from Zero Waste Daniel, he's found a way to use deadstock color patterns to create a streetwear collection that has created quite a cult following. Work with Remnants Now onto the smaller remnants that often get tossed aside for landfill. Zero Waste Daniel has created beautiful patchwork from the scraps that create lower priced items to round out his collection, as well as broaden his customer base since these patches can be applied to a number of different style preferences and still be loved. Take the #deadstockdistrictchallenge
When we stop thinking of design as an established path and instead think of it as it truly is, a creative challenge, we can begin to find new pathways to reduce waste and work with what we have.
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