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16.1 Introduction
From sourcing to post-consumption disposal and waste management, the fashion
industry compromises several forms of life on land and therefore compromises the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) and SDG 14 Life
below Water (FAO, ITPS 2015). Major issues confronting the industry range from
use of raw materials, waste generation and pollution of land and water. Such issues
have profound impacts on life and are often difficult to estimate due to their complexity and global reach (Šajn 2019). Introducing more efficient production processes in the fashion industry would contribute to reducing waste and production of
greenhouse emissions and promote sustainable resource management. Whilst producing more environmentally friendly apparel can contribute to the achievement of
SDG 15, the industry should commit to closing the whole cycle production in a
sustainable and responsible manner. This requires the participation of key stakeholders in the industry, namely, designers, factory workers, material suppliers and
consumers, contributing in the development of new practices, behaviours, technologies and processes for recovering and reusing waste.
In this context, this chapter presents a review of fashion design processes for
upcycling organic yarn through exploring its connection to the promotion of SDGs
14 and 15. The fashion industry has grown rapidly since garments and textiles first
began mass production in the nineteenth century. It has also become the second
largest industrial consumer of water (UNECE 2019). Additionally, evidence shows
it is responsible for the production of more than 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas
emissions (UNFCCC 2018), causing severe environmental damage (MassonDelmotte et al. 2018). In response, stakeholders in the fashion industry have come
up with sustainability-driven innovations to address such industrial issues. Some of
these actions include but are not limited to textile production from recycled materials, the use of innovative technologies in clothing production and the use of zerowaste pattern techniques, among others. Although these practices have gained
popularity among consumers, the fashion industry as a whole is far from becoming
sustainable. This chapter presents a review of material sourcing and waste management processes throughout the design process. The review will cover four main
stages of the fashion cycle as well as case studies examining sustainable fashion
practices and techniques. This will hopefully increase our understanding of the
development of impact sustainability solutions towards the promotion of SDG 15
and SDG 14 in the fashion industry. Thus, this review is useful for educators and
researchers working to promote sustainable fashion innovations. The chapter begins
presenting connections between the sustainability of the fashion industry, SDG 15
and SDG 14. It then provides a review of material sourcing, which consists of the
separation of materials into two groups: agriculture-sourced or natural fibre-sourced
and synthetic fibre-sourced. This is followed by a review of the production stage,
which transforms raw materials into fibres, yarns, fabrics, etc. This section also
highlights case studies exemplifying global sustainable practices, specifically
reviewing waste management practices, and finishes with a few recommendations
C. Arana et al.
16.1 Introduction
From sourcing to post-consumption disposal and waste management, the fashion
industry compromises several forms of life on land and therefore compromises the
achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) and SDG 14 Life
below Water (FAO, ITPS 2015). Major issues confronting the industry range from
use of raw materials, waste generation and pollution of land and water. Such issues
have profound impacts on life and are often difficult to estimate due to their complexity and global reach (Šajn 2019). Introducing more efficient production processes in the fashion industry would contribute to reducing waste and production of
greenhouse emissions and promote sustainable resource management. Whilst producing more environmentally friendly apparel can contribute to the achievement of
SDG 15, the industry should commit to closing the whole cycle production in a
sustainable and responsible manner. This requires the participation of key stakeholders in the industry, namely, designers, factory workers, material suppliers and
consumers, contributing in the development of new practices, behaviours, technologies and processes for recovering and reusing waste.
In this context, this chapter presents a review of fashion design processes for
upcycling organic yarn through exploring its connection to the promotion of SDGs
14 and 15. The fashion industry has grown rapidly since garments and textiles first
began mass production in the nineteenth century. It has also become the second
largest industrial consumer of water (UNECE 2019). Additionally, evidence shows
it is responsible for the production of more than 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas
emissions (UNFCCC 2018), causing severe environmental damage (MassonDelmotte et al. 2018). In response, stakeholders in the fashion industry have come
up with sustainability-driven innovations to address such industrial issues. Some of
these actions include but are not limited to textile production from recycled materials, the use of innovative technologies in clothing production and the use of zerowaste pattern techniques, among others. Although these practices have gained
popularity among consumers, the fashion industry as a whole is far from becoming
sustainable. This chapter presents a review of material sourcing and waste management processes throughout the design process. The review will cover four main
stages of the fashion cycle as well as case studies examining sustainable fashion
practices and techniques. This will hopefully increase our understanding of the
development of impact sustainability solutions towards the promotion of SDG 15
and SDG 14 in the fashion industry. Thus, this review is useful for educators and
researchers working to promote sustainable fashion innovations. The chapter begins
presenting connections between the sustainability of the fashion industry, SDG 15
and SDG 14. It then provides a review of material sourcing, which consists of the
separation of materials into two groups: agriculture-sourced or natural fibre-sourced
and synthetic fibre-sourced. This is followed by a review of the production stage,
which transforms raw materials into fibres, yarns, fabrics, etc. This section also
highlights case studies exemplifying global sustainable practices, specifically
reviewing waste management practices, and finishes with a few recommendations
C. Arana et al.