Why every design brief at every University, needs to be environmentally aware!

Anyone that knows me well, knows I'm a bit of a hoarder and still wear clothes from 20 years ago (if I can fit into them!). That doesn't make me a hero though, I am still most definitely partly to blame for the climate chaos caused by fast fashion, AKA disposable clothing.

So when I recently connected with the Head of Fashion Design, at a main University in London. I found myself offering to do a talk to the students, to share anything I have learnt over the years about vegan design and how design affects the climate. The heavy responsibility that our educational establishments hold at this moment in time, shouldn't be under estimated, even if they don't seem to realise it themselves yet!

We now know that the fashion industry contributes massively to climate change, the idea of 'not buying any new clothes for a year', is picking up a pace fast. Design has to include careful material choices, to avoid microfibre pollution pouring straight into our oceans and the ever declining amount of fish mouths. I know the interior design industry needs to have a good old look at itself too, in exactly the same way!

If capitalism is to change, or maybe even be replaced with something that benefits everyone, fast fashion could soon be non existent. Will fashion and interior design courses still be around in a few years?! I'd love there to be new courses based on creative re-use of materials, maybe they already exist?! However, I did just have a quick look through both the RCA and St,Martins courses and couldn't spot anything based on vegan, sustainable (and ethical) design anywhere. If you have spotted a future thinking University, please let me know..........

PS. A very late, Happy New Year!!

Couple of (not so) pro tips -

1. Get your sewing machine out, or even just a needle and thread and get fixing.

2. Make your own washing powder, it's not as hard as you'd think. Ask if interested.

(Photo: Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock)

Here's a great link for more info on the damage that fashion design is causing...

https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big--1882083445.html

#veganinteriordesign #veganinteriordesigner #ethicalinteriordesigner #ethicalinteriordesign #vegandesignss