Zero Waste Garment |sustainability|

Zero waste fashion isn’t a new technology or material. Instead, it’s a new way of thinking — a philosophy that forces designers to challenge existing techniques. “Zero waste design,” or, “zero waste pattern making,” refers to the practice of designing patterns for clothing with little to no fabric waste. The practice is being adopted by designers who are using various techniques, materials, and technologies to achieve the perfect zero-waste garment.

To begin with we were first supposed to explore a series of paper folds and then visualise it as a garment. To move further we first experimented the folds on smaller mannequins to understand the opening of the garment and also that how its gonna look on body form. The process went from creating 10-15 folds and then finally selecting the folds on the bases of similarity , execution as well as visualisation .

STEP- 1 PAPER FOLDS

STEP -2 DRAPING ON MANNEQUINS

After finalising the three folds with the mentors, the next step was to visualise those paper folds on smaller mannequin to have a fair idea of the fold, drapes and fabric.

Initially I was very much concerned about replicating the paper folds on fabric, but as the process went I realised that maybe somethings looks good in paper fold but the same might not come out on fabric and that's okay !

STEP -3 DRAPING ON BODY

I do realise that the fabric I used on smaller mannequin was of a different weight and the one I represented in the garments is different from that . I ended up making changes here since I started liking the fall of the garment and some due to the drape. As the process went further I manipulated the folds according to my body .

Garment-1

Fabric: 46"*39*

Details: V-neck front and back

: asymmetrical hem and sleeves

: pleats on shoulders

Paper fold inspiration

FRONT

BACK

SIDE

Garment - 2

Fabric: 50"*32"

Details: V-neck

:front pocket

:tucked at waist

PAPER FOLD INSPIRATION

FRONT

SIDE

BACK

Garment- 3

Fabric: 54"*54"

Details: Roll-up buttoned sleeves

:pocket in front

Take Aways:

• There is a whole journey of a garment from paper fold to smaller mannequins and then finally when it reaches the body.

• Every time one folds leads to another fold creating something a new story altogether which is eventually the beauty of the exercise.

• The type of fabric used will highly influence the type of fold/drape we achieve at the end.

• While folding the fabric, draping provides a larger room for exploration . It actually opens up various possibilities to create the fold along with adding certain new elements in the process itself. Also it doesn't only helps in achieving the fold rather it also provides an option to add aesthetics to the garment.

• I feel rather than sticking to the accuracy of the fold , if we open up our minds to think border just by following the DNA of the paper fold, it would eventually create a larger room for explorations.