There are considerable environmental, social, and economic implications that derive from the fashion industry. Evaluating the complexity of the industry began with the business model and using the various systems tools to provide different perspectives to the question, “How can we make the future of fashion more transparent and simultaneously promote sustainable practices?”
The textile industry involves a lot of human resources in all processes, such as raw material collection, dyeing, processing, and sewing, and the wastage of resources and energy and increase in environmental pollution are caused by the short-term waste of clothing produced during these processes. This research project will seek to explore how the waste generated by the fast fashion industry during the manufacturing of the garments is managed. Approximately 15% of fabric intended for garment construction ends up on the cutting room floor and is discarded. Textile waste is not generally considered a ‘problem’ in waste management because, although materials are made with a range of chemicals, they are generally not considered toxic, in that they do not raise problems in the same way as batteries, tires or light bulbs. This project highlights the usage of unused fabric pieces considered as tailoring waste in the fast fashion industry.
The approach for the project was to investigate the current facts which included the process in the fast fashion industry, different practices by the brands, global supply chain analytics and most importantly the waste management system. Sustainability-oriented innovation calls for thinking and the reconfiguration of several elements of a system including system capabilities, stakeholder relationships, knowledge management, leadership and culture. This study integrated a deep analysis and understanding of the waste generated during the garment construction to alternatively use that waste to develop another material for better sustainability practices. Utilizing this research data, the testing for innovatively designing a new material made out of the waste generated by the industry was created. The purpose of creating a new composite material is to make use of the unused pieces of fabric discarded by the tailors. Further evaluation and analysis of the designed material helped in building a business model around the futuristic practical use of it. My analysis shows the designed material can replace a few non-recyclable things like foam used in the fashion industry. It can be used as a primary or secondary material in developing products. I conclude that this is going to be an ongoing research project to further work on variations of the material.