Innovating sustainable fashion design: an exploration of the sustainability of a hybrid method through the C2CAD framework

Sustainability in the fashion industry is evolving, with a trend towards integrating digital technology with traditional crafts, as more eyes are on artisanal values than manufacturing benefits. Meanwhile, a hybrid design and making method merges human skills with digital tools for sustainable creation, as investigated in the design innovations of the opera costume in this study. The study applies the C2CAD framework to guide design, develop an optimised design model, and validate the sustainable impact of each design step. The design model focuses on small-scale customised pieces by the designer and highlights the stages of hybrid design and making, resulting in a sustainable design process that displays a non-linear recursive route. The research reveals the interaction between the making techniques and necessitates a balance between aesthetics and sustainability. The findings provide a valuable insight into the application of the sustainable fashion design model and making method in the design process.