Some of today's leading designers use zero-waste techniques in sustainable fashion, and you too can learn to apply them in your designs, helping to work towards eliminating the 15% of textiles that go to waste in the cutting room.
In this Masterclass, you'll uncover a range of lesser-known sources to inspire zero waste designs, practical techniques for zero waste pattern cutting, and advice on applying circular lifecycles within your business. We interview designers working at the cutting edge of zero waste who offer up their fantastic industry experience. Go beyond the buzzword and delve into current perspectives of "zero waste" in fashion, provided by our line up of world-class industry experts.
In this Masterclass you will learn:
- Why a zero waste approach could make sense to adopt in your values and your business
- The early beginnings of what we refer to today as 'zero waste' fashion
- Historical and global sources of inspiration for reducing waste in your designs
- Pattern cutting techniques and resources from professionals committed to sustainability
- How to grow your business using a zero waste model
- Ways to teach sustainability and zero waste
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The History of Zero Waste in Fashion
with Jenny TiramaniSummary
"Zero waste" might be a popular buzzword these days, but the practices behind it have been around for millennia. Thanks to the crucial research of historians like Jenny Tiramani and The School of Historical Dress, we’re able to incorporate ideas and practices from earlier eras of clothing production into what we make today. In times when resources were less easily attainable and people worked in closer contact with raw materials, wasteful habits were uncommon, even frowned upon. From pattern cutting, to textile production, to hand-me-downs - this lesson uses specific examples of historical garments to find out where we started to use our resources more flippantly and to seek practical techniques that will revive less-wasteful practices, for a more sustainable fashion future.
About the speaker:
Jenny Tiramani is an award-winning costume and stage designer and a leading researcher in historical costume practices. She is also the Principal of The School of Historical Dress, which boasts Dame Vivienne Westwood among its patrons. Jenny has designed and made costumes everywhere from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London to the Belasco Theatre on Broadway, where she won a Tony Award for ‘Best Costume Design in a Play’.
Find Jenny and The School of Historical Dress at:
www.theschoolofhistoricaldress.org.uk
Instagram: @theschoolofhistoricaldress1
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Zero Waste Fashion Designers
with Charlie Bradley RossSummary
For the first time, Avantex Paris played host to the Zero Waste Fashion Designers (Z429), a designers' collective from Spain, the Netherlands and Vietnam. Invited by the French label Milan AV-JC, the collection presented by the eleven zero-waste brands was developed in accordance with zero waste design principles, keeping offcuts to a minimum, if at all.
Avantex Paris is the international high-tech and innovative textiles trade show. The show was launched in response to today's consumer desire to reconcile fashion with the changing society they live in. The Zero Waste Design area was set up at the heart of the show in order to showcase innovations that help avoid waste in the industry.
Here you can watch the full catwalk show that took place at Avantex and take inspiration from the cutting edge, zero-waste designs that went on display.
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Techniques for Cutting Back on Waste in Your Designs
with Eve TokensSummary
Working towards a zero-waste practice means going back to basics, sometimes relearning what we think we already know, and taking time to consider new ways to work with our materials.
Eve Tokens, aka The Creative Curator, is a trained fashion designer and pattern cutter, who teaches creative pattern cutting in her YouTube tutorials and blog posts. We’re revisiting this fantastic demo with her from 2017 for this month’s masterclass, all about zero waste, in which she shares her techniques for zero-waste cutting, eliminating waste right from the design stage.
About the speaker:
Eve Tokens is a trained fashion designer and creative pattern cutter, the mastermind behind The Creative Curator, a blog and YouTube channel. She teaches others how to create their own unique and stunning clothes, advocating a sustainable, waste-free approach to fashion.
Find Eve at:
YouTube: The Creative Curator
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Waste-Free Methods from Creative Pattern Cutting
with Franki CampbellSummary
Gain insight into the world of creative pattern cutting, a profession that demands strong creative vision and problem-solving skills, and how a pattern cutter’s capabilities can be applied to reducing waste right from the design stage.
We revisit this episode from 2017 with Franki Campbell, whose approach to zero waste pattern cutting is pushing boundaries. Driven by her passion for sustainability, she has developed patterns optimised to cut down as much waste as possible using smart techniques and a holistic approach to how textiles are used in the studio.
About the speaker:
Franki Campbell is a Creative Pattern Cutter. An early interest in sewing and garment construction led her to undertake courses in corsetry, costume and bespoke pattern. After graduating from the PGC in Innovative Pattern Cutting at Central Saint Martins, her interest in sustainable fashion found her interning at Safia Minney’s label People Tree. Today she works freelance, making patterns for multiple fashion lines.
Find Franki at:
Instagram: @franki.creativepatterncutter
Interviews
Technical Tutorials
Past Events
The Eco Chic Design Award Zero Waste Technique
Future Learn: Sustainable Design Techniques
Zero Waste Fashion Design (Book)
Free downloadable PDF zero waste dress pattern from Offset Warehouse designed by Franki Campbell
Follow on Masterclasses:
The Design Process: From Design To Product
Additional Reading
Top Takeaways from The Regenerative Fashion Conference
Sunday Oct 1st, 2023
Eight Last Minute Easy And Beautiful Zero Waste Gifts To Make
Thursday Dec 17th, 2020
What's In Your Mending Pile This Winter?
Tuesday Oct 27th, 2020
Say Yes to Second Hand September with Oxfam
Monday Sep 7th, 2020
In Conversation With Bundle 'n Joy: Possibly the First Ever Maternity Clothes Rental Scheme
Tuesday Aug 4th, 2020
What can you make with our Recycled Polyester Satin fabrics?
Wednesday Jul 1st, 2020
What are the benefits of using 3D Printing in Fashion?
Saturday Jun 13th, 2020
How To Extend The Life Of Your Materials
Friday Jun 12th, 2020
Material innovations in the sustainable cellulosic fibre realm
Thursday May 7th, 2020
#LockdownStash Sewing Upcycling Challenge May 2020
Friday May 1st, 2020