By Rupal Dalal

December 05, 2022 (IANSlife) These days, "sustainable is the new black" for those pursuing artistic careers! Sustainability has been the main focus of every recent fashion show, portfolio, photoshoot, and illustration since fashion students are always on top of the latest trends. Have you ever questioned why this is the case? Why are phrases like "let's assist mother nature" and "there is no planet B" being promoted by marketers all over the world? People have been deeply affected by the constant news about global warming, and since fashion is so prominent, it is the perfect way to communicate this message.

How are technology and science transforming fashion?

If you are pursuing your career in the glamorous world of fashion, ensure that you are well-versed or at least aware of the below tactics that can bridge the gap between demand and supply. And if you are a “sustainable designer,” these areas if covered will keep you ahead in terms of advanced sustainable fashion:

3D virtual sampling

Traditional methods of sampling were considered to be a necessity for the buyers and sellers. The samples were easy for the manufacturers to understand every seam, pattern and related nitty-gritty detail of creating the garment. But do you know that one finished garment can need around 20 samples and after it is made, these samples are of no use whatsoever?

Fashion tech packs and 3D virtual sampling saves billions of dollars and waste. Plus, there is no logistics required as the internet does its work to send multiple virtual sampling in one go. It barely is a matter of seconds! Students should focus on learning tech packs and other virtual sampling methods, which could fulfil the sustainability motto and save a lot of time for them. The next time you need something similar, all you have to do is open the file you created. Simple, isn’t it?

Alternative textiles

As a part of conscious fashion, you can always go for sustainable fabrics available in the market. Fabrics that can be reused without much effort. Did you know that one cotton shirt takes the same amount of water as a human would need to drink for more than 2 years? Why invest in something you need to invest over and over again? Fabrics are made from agricultural waste and many such alternatives are perfect to fulfil the motto. Of course, there is a lot of science behind this and hence you get something derived from waste in the form of a garment. Some of these fabrics can also be naturally dyed to obtain any fabulous look.

Fashion on demand

The pattern of manufacturing garments in bulk and selling them is good and has worked for ages, but are you aware of the waste included in this? On-demand design and manufacturing are the future of fashion. There is no waste included and the creator needs no extra inventory to keep out-of-fashion pieces. Yes, to create something small you need more money and effort but thanks to automation and data analytics. First, there will be zero to less waste and second, data analytics help you understand customer behaviour and know what is your target market where the garment will be sold in seconds (just in case the demand didn’t appear).

(Rupal Dalal, Managing Director, JD Institute of Fashion Technology)

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