Ethical and Sustainable Fashion (DST63904)

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Content

Assignment Brief
Task 01
Task 02
Task 03

Assignment Brief


Task 01

This semester marks the beginning of Fashion Project 2, and on the first day of class, we were briefed on the module information booklet and assignment brief. The project focuses on exploring global issues aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and developing a design concept that addresses one of these issues through a fashion-related product.

We were tasked with researching global issues connected to the SDGs and preparing a PowerPoint proposal for Assignment 1, which required us to design a laptop sleeve.

Initially, I considered two topics:

  1. Discarded fishing nets
  2. Bank cards and gift cards

After consulting with my lecturer, I decided to focus on discarded fishing nets, also known as ghost gear. I began by researching what ghost gear is, the types of synthetic ropes used in fishing, and how they contribute to microplastic pollution. I also explored which SDG goals align with my topic, particularly SDG 14: Life Below Water.

Finding reliable data and active organizations addressing ghost gear pollution proved challenging. Although a few regional organizations were raising awareness and collecting data, most initiatives were led by individual volunteers or small communities, making it difficult to find well-documented statistics.

By Week 2, I started sourcing materials for my laptop sleeve. I ordered fishing nets online and searched for synthetic ropes, suitable fabrics, and other components both online and in physical stores. Since most materials were purchased online, it took some time for everything to arrive.

Once I began constructing the laptop sleeve, I used black denim as the base fabric and black fleece for the inner lining to provide softness and protection. To highlight the concept of ghost gear, I used transparent PVC fabric to encase the manipulation of fishing nets and ropes. For structure and cushioning, I added an aquarium base leveling mat as the internal sponging layer.

 

The making process was both challenging and rewarding. I used a hot glue gun to secure the nets and ropes to the denim base, but this step was tricky, some synthetic materials melted under the heat. After that, I stitched the zipper to the two layers and sewed the edges together.

Flipping the sleeve right side out after sewing the lining was quite difficult, especially when fixing the corners neatly. After completing the stitching, I realized I had made a mistake with the zipper placement, which affected the final finish slightly.

Reflection

This project taught me the importance of planning ahead, understanding materials, and experimenting with techniques before final construction. Despite the challenges, I gained valuable experience working with unconventional materials like fishing nets and PVC, which helped me think more critically about sustainability in fashion design.

Researching ghost gear opened my eyes to the severity of marine pollution. Overall, I’m proud of my progress and look forward to improving my technical, conceptual and time management approach in the coming weeks.


Task 02

  

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