Intentional Pattern-Making: Development of Repeatable Designs for Repurposing Apparel

The growth of the fast fashion industry has increased the rate of consumption of fashion products, resulting in an abundance of still functional, second-hand clothing. The EPA (2018) estimates that textiles account for approximately 10.5 million tons of waste annually, 100% of which is recyclable in some way. Previous research suggests that repurposing is a possible solution to the overconsumption of fashion goods and could add value back to unwanted garments. Currently, no formal process exists for repurposing, due in part to the time-intensive nature of repurposing a product from deconstruction through reconstruction. Four levels of repurposing have been identified from previous research and the purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the fourth level of repurposing; intentional pattern-making. Three designers followed the same process from the repurposing model for proof of concept. Men's suiting was selected as the material for repurposing and a common inspiration was chosen by the three designers. Preliminary results indicate that it is possible to achieve repeatable designs using level four of the repurposing model and various different methods of pattern-making.