A Mixed-Method Study of Design Practices and Designers’ Roles in Sustainable-Minded Clothing Companies

Simple item page
dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributor.authorKarell, Essien_US
dc.contributor.authorNiinimäki, Kirsien_US
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Designen
dc.contributor.groupauthorFashion/Textile Futuresen
dc.date.accessioned2021-12-15T07:25:35Z
dc.date.available2021-12-15T07:25:35Z
dc.date.issued2020-06en_US
dc.description.abstractThe way in which the current fashion industry operates needs to fundamentally change. In this endeavour, designers are considered central figures throughout the sustainable fashion literature. However, too little is known about clothing designers’ practical contributions to sustainability. Therefore, this study investigates how sustainability is integrated into design practices in sustainable-minded clothing companies and determines the role of clothing designers in this respect. A mixed-method study was conducted based on a sequential exploratory strategy. The data were collected in two stages: a preliminary phase based on five expert interviews and a survey phase, which involved 31 clothing designers from around Europe. The data analysis was also divided into two phases: thematic analysis of the interviews and content analysis of the survey. The findings indicate that the sustainable design practices within these companies predominantly focus on material choices and aspects that support product longevity. Yet, there is little empirical evidence to support claims regarding garments’ true longevity. Knowledge regarding materials, recycling and best practices is also lacking among clothing designers. Lack of knowledge and company strategies frequently dictate and restrict the design work. This further highlights the fact that designers’ opportunities to influence environmental and social change are more limited than earlier literature suggests.en
dc.description.versionPeer revieweden
dc.format.extent25
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen_US
dc.identifier.citationKarell, E & Niinimäki, K 2020, ' A Mixed-Method Study of Design Practices and Designers’ Roles in Sustainable-Minded Clothing Companies ', Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 11, 4680 . https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114680en
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/su12114680en_US
dc.identifier.issn2071-1050
dc.identifier.otherPURE UUID: d5ed4507-8e8d-45f1-bd12-ed5e466f3f82en_US
dc.identifier.otherPURE ITEMURL: https://research.aalto.fi/en/publications/d5ed4507-8e8d-45f1-bd12-ed5e466f3f82en_US
dc.identifier.otherPURE LINK: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086333995&partnerID=8YFLogxKen_US
dc.identifier.otherPURE FILEURL: https://research.aalto.fi/files/76834546/A_Mixed_Method_Study_of_Design_Practices_and_Designers_Roles_in_Sustainable_Minded_Clothing_Companies.pdfen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/111652
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-2021121510793
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
dc.relation.ispartofseriesSustainabilityen
dc.relation.ispartofseriesVolume 12, issue 11en
dc.rightsopenAccessen
dc.subject.keywordsustainabilityen_US
dc.subject.keywordsustainable designen_US
dc.subject.keywordsustainable fashionen_US
dc.subject.keywordclothing designen_US
dc.subject.keywordfashion designen_US
dc.subject.keyworddesign practiceen_US
dc.subject.keywordmixed-methoden_US
dc.titleA Mixed-Method Study of Design Practices and Designers’ Roles in Sustainable-Minded Clothing Companiesen
dc.typeA1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessäfi
dc.type.versionpublishedVersion
Files
Collections
[article-cris] Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu / ARTS