Creating solutions for fashion Industry factory waste fabrics
This installation, explains Melissa’s technique that can lower fashion industry waste by utilizing the pattern layout fabric waste areas.
As you can see she takes the shapes that are present between the traditional pattern pieces for the pants and jackes and is able to make wearanle items.
The pattern that had 30% of the fabric going to the waste bin became zero waste.
Because in Mass production pattern parts are cut out in multiples, the same is true for the waste area pieces.
Melissa Lockwoods process can design wearable garments from and waste shapes.
The understanding of radial projection and geometric forms likes cylinders and cones is enough to get any designer started at the reduction of threir waste of fabric.
Most of the pieces Lockwood creates are made from material that otherwise would never have seen use.
Her brand, IQTEST, was born when Lockwood came upon dumpsters of waste fabrics bound for the landfill.
She was shocked by the large amount of fabric and took materials for what would become her artwork.
The purpose of her work is to see what can be made from materials considered by the fashion industry to be waste.
Though focused on the clothing industry, Lockwood’s message is a universal one: We are a wasteful society.
Perhaps it’s due to convenience, as its easier to buy new than repair, or in this case discard fabric rather than find uses for the waste fabrics.
The end result of our endless garbage production is so far removed from many people’s daily lives that they likely don’t give it a second thought. And that’s the point really, these pieces of clothing are the second thought people need to see.
Rusty Tagliareni
Published Jun 29, 2018
Dirt Magazine