Designing with Communities A Framework for Undergraduate Research in Sustainable Fashion
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- sustainable fashion
- undergraduate research
- community-centered design
- design justice
- Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS)
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Abstract
The fashion industry exemplifies unsustainable production and consumption, generating severe ecological damage and perpetuating exploitative labor practices. Recent global analyses estimate that the sector contributes nearly 10% of global carbon emissions, disposes of a truckload of textiles every second through landfilling or incineration, and recycles less than 1% of discarded garments into new clothing. These alarming figures underscore the urgency of rethinking how future designers and researchers are educated. Higher education institutions, particularly design schools, are positioned to prepare graduates who can navigate the intertwined challenges of sustainability and social justice. This paper proposes that undergraduate research in sustainable fashion, when structured as a community-centered practice, provides a powerful pedagogy for cultivating socially responsible design researchers. Drawing on sustainable fashion studies, participatory and co-design traditions, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), and design justice, it develops a five-phase framework—Engagement, Exploration, Empathy, Experimentation, and Evolution. Each phase specifies inputs, competencies, outputs, and measurable social outcomes, moving beyond abstract ideals to actionable pedagogy. A mini-case and a 14-week semester map demonstrate classroom integration. By positioning communities as equal partners, the framework challenges extractive models of design research while aligning with global sustainability agendas, including the SDGs and circular economy.
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