Innovative Sustainable Apparel Design: Application of CAD and Redesign Process

Abstract

This chapter aims to provide insights for designers, researchers, and educators seeking innovative ways to practice redesign activities within sustainable apparel design methods. The authors of the chapter present theoretical concepts for upcycling and applications of redesigning practices using innovative technologies, including laser etching and cutting, digital textile printing, and pattern digitizing through virtual computer-aided design (CAD) methods. The researchers further discuss a sustainable redesign framework that highlights the use of CAD and sequentially presents three design examples using (a) post-consumer textile waste (leather and silk) by an engineering laser cutting technique, (b) post-industrial waste (denim) by an engineering laser etching technique, and (c) post-consumer textile waste (denim) by pattern digitizing and engineering digital textile printing techniques. The presented redesign methods are sustainable as they reduce waste and increase efficiency for surface design and garment construction processes. The chapter concludes with some challenges of the redesigning process and suggested solutions suggestions for redesigning at micro and macro levels of the apparel industry.