ITAA - KSCT Joint Symposium

Waste as a Beginning: Prototyping a Material-Driven Approach for Circular Textiles

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Abstract

In response to escalating environmental pressures and growing volumes of post-consumer textile waste, this research proposes Waste-Led Product Development (WLPD), a material-driven methodology that positions waste as the primary input in apparel design. While existing circular strategies often retrofit waste into conventional development models, WLPD reconceptualizes waste as a generative resource that shapes design decisions from the outset. Grounded in Waste-Led Design principles, cradle-to-cradle thinking, and research-through-practice frameworks, the methodology prioritizes material variability, local context, and iterative prototyping. WLPD was developed and tested through a two-phase study: professional designer co-design workshops employing rapid material experimentation, followed by curriculum-based student projects integrating post-consumer garments, speculative design, and digital tools. Findings demonstrate that centering waste as both constraint and catalyst fosters adaptable, place-based solutions that challenge linear production models. WLPD offers a replicable and scalable framework for sustainability education and industry innovation, advancing circular textile systems by embedding material stewardship and responsiveness.

Keywords: circular textiles; post-consumer textile waste; material-driven design; circular economy

How to Cite:

Cobb, K. & Yatvitskiy, M., (2025) “Waste as a Beginning: Prototyping a Material-Driven Approach for Circular Textiles”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.22035