Design and Product Development

Synthesis of Handcrafts and Digital Printing: Creative Sustainable Apparel Design

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Abstract

Apparel manufacturing processes are one of the most prevalent sources of environmental problems at almost every stage (Gam & Banning, 2011). Some apparel designers/manufacturers are striving to incorporate sustainable and socially responsible processes to create non-toxic, healthy, biodegradable textiles and apparel products. This apparel design project combined handcraft techniques and digital printing to create an eco-friendly line entitled Life of Earth. The design process model used was created by LaBat and Sokoloskwi (1999) including: (a) problem definition and research, (b) creative exploration, and (c) implementation; and the designer included an evaluation step.

Keywords: Digital printing, free form embroidery, sustainable apparel design

How to Cite:

Zhang, L. & Sanders, E. A., (2014) “Synthesis of Handcrafts and Digital Printing: Creative Sustainable Apparel Design”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 71(1).