• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.140-156
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to review and establish the three concepts of upcycling, zero-waste fashion design, and regional sustainability through a review of domestic and international case studies. Furthermore, it will provide the theoretical basis for using upcycling as a regional sustainability practice to create zero-waste fashion design. To conduct an empirical study, we systematized the stages of the survey on waste resources in Changsin-dong, the sourcing and utilization of waste resources, the design-planning stage, and the co-production with pattern and sewing masters as a suggested practice for regional sustainability. Through this study, we propose the possibility of regional sustainability by developing and sharing the method of zero-waste fashion design. The conclusion of the study as follows: First, upcycling fashion designs can be extended to a regional sustainability practice by taking the characteristics of social design into account. Second, by providing a design development process and methodology suitable for regional sustainability application, it is helpful to revitalize regional upcycling fashion brands and communities by providing data for upcycled fashion branding. Third, as part of the revitalization project for the Chang-shin and Soongin areas that started in 2014, using the region's economic, cultural, and environmental characteristics to make and sell high-value, upcycled fashion products will contribute to social and economic achievements and aid in solving regional problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.969-983
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• 2020

Zero waste fashion design to minimize the 15% fabric waste generated during production can be difficult to industrialize instead of having strong originality. This study designed shirts that are practical and reflect trends using the zero waste pattern cutting method and suggest the possibilities for industrial production. The content of the study are as follows. First, the pattern cutting method of zero waste fashion design was studied. Second, the recent trends of shirt design were analyzed and reflected in the design development. Third, 4 zero waste shirt designs were developed and produced by applying the geometric cutting, puzzle cutting, and minimal cutting methods. As for the research method, literature research was conducted on related references; in addition, design development and production were conducted empirically. As a result, the developed zero waste shirts are practical and trendy. In addition, the results of the study are meaningful to provide basic data for the commercialization and industrial application of zero waste fashion design.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.73-86
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• 2024

Addressing the environmental impact of textile waste, this study explores upcycling as a sustainable fashion solution, particularly focusing on the upcycling of discarded fishing nets, which are a significant source of marine pollution. In 2018, South Korea alone produced 193.3 tons of clothing waste, refelcting a global trend, where textile waste exceedsed 92 million tons. The research methodology involved a literature review and case studies on upcycled fashion, focusing on discarded fishing nets. Designs for three outfits targeting women in their twenties were proposed and a survey was carried out to assess the their perception of upcycled fashion and the design's appeal and practicality. Under the theme, 'Marine Spirit,' the study aimed to raise awareness of marine pollution, drawing inspiration from the ocean's vibrant life. The designs diverge from the monotonous 'Casual Glam' trend, and incorporate vivid colors and asymmetrical structures for visual appeal. The practical application of fishing nets varied across the pieces, serving as fillers in transparent PVC padded coats and decorative elements in skirts and puff dresses. The distinctive properties of fishing nets provide a unique aesthetic, which resonated well with the target audience. Despite challenges in adopting eco-friendly dyeing methods and assessing mass production feasibility, the study underscores the need for continued research in sustainable textile processing. The study reaffirms the importance of sustainable fashion, highlighting the creative potential of fishing nets as a material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.984-1003
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• 2020

The global fashion industry produces significant carbon emission and micro-plastics in oceans. Studies on sustainable design methods as such environmental issues in fashion are becoming intensely problematic. This study conducted a case study on 100 upcycle fashion brands to propose strategical upcycle fashion designs to compete in a sustainable fashion market. A literature review indicated that 3 types of textile wastes are generated as upcycling materials: post-producer, pre-consumer and post-consumer. Wastes are categorized together with 3 types of techniques: redesigning, reconstruction and handcrafting. This research derived 7 types of upcycle fashion designs that have the following features: to make luxury upcycle fashion products, to make sustainable grunge looks, to re-evaluate deadstocks, to recover vintage clothes, to convert waste into craft-arts, to offer solutions for damaged products, and to make zero-waste small fabric waste. The study results show that key drivers in the upcycle fashion design are the redesignability of materials and technique-related costs. This study implies that adopting appropriate design features can be a useful strategy for designers. New technologies will solve current problems and encourage them to design products in a new circular value system.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2019

The mass production after the industrialisation and the fast changing fashion cycles in today's world resulted in buying clothes and home textiles more than we need and discarding them before they complete their life cycles. This causes vast amounts of textile waste that creates environmental issues. Upcycling is the creative process of transforming clothing and textile waste by reusing deadstock or used fabric to create new garments and products. It holds importance in terms of sustainability, reducing waste and environmental pollution. During the process of upcycling, certainly the creativity and innovation are the key words because to reuse a product to a better value needs a creative mind, aesthetic consciousness, innovative look and knowledge and it is quite different from a normal design procedure. There is a delicate level of aesthetics which carries the reused materials to a higher value. The handling of the materials, knowing how to manipulate the waste material, the techniques available to apply to surfaces, the concept of two and three dimension on textiles and clothing, contributions of other branches of art such as sculpture and painting all help the designer to reach a higher aesthetic value in the upcycled product in this process. In the study; it was aimed to raise awareness, to attract attention to sustainable fashion and also to contribute to sustainable development as an upcycling design project realized with students in textile and fashion design education taken as an example.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.225-237
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• 2009

This study started with the cognition of problem that design activities closely related to industries could cause damages to the environment. The purpose of this study was to suggest a new concept of fashion design for environment using pre-consumer textile wastes which are produced in cutting process and used to be disposed in landfill sites. To achieve the purpose of this study, the literatures about fashion design for environment were reviewed, and design process including design development, producing, and presentation was performed. As a result, three fashion designs for environment using textile wastes were suggested. The results of this study were followings. Using pre-consumer textile wastes, this study suggested realistic way of fashion design for environment which is not just showing environment image, but providing practical use as well as preventing the waste of resources. Second, through constructing textile wastes, both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional designs were possible, and unexpected effects created new value of beauty. Third, because the amount and type of pre-consumer textile wastes are unlimited, this fashion design for environment could be considered as continuous profit model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.64 no.8
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• pp.138-154
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to propose up-cycling fashion designs, based on guidelines derived from up-cycling fashion brand products and their required elements of the design. The study thus categorized required elements into environment, significance, economy, function, design, and material, then extracted a set of design guidelines. The guidelines for waste resource-based up-cycling fashion design include the followings: First, authenticity, taking mutual environmental relations into account. Second, rarity of products beyond the domain of standardized ready-made goods thanks to manual operation. Third, storytelling, reflecting the consumer history. Fourth, sustainability to signify the circulation of matters. Fifth, experimental characteristic to fulfill creative innovation. Sixth, changeability through interactions with wearers. The investigator decided design concepts based on them and created up-cycling design works with waste plastic bags, shirts, stockings, neckties, outdoor mats, and backpacks in a variety of formative expressive techniques.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.486-502
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• 2018

Mass-production caused by industrialization has led to environmental pollution; however, a potential solution to this problem is the Up-cycling fashion design belonging to the sustainable design category. This study analyzed the material characteristics of each brand fashion product by selecting 21 domestic Up-cycling fashion brands. The product types manufactured by domestic Up-cycling fashion brands could be divided into fashion clothing, bag, and fashion accessories. The materials used for each item included special material, waste fiber, waste leather, waste paper, and others. In the results of analyzing the material characteristics into the external characteristics and internal characteristics, the external characteristics included the durability with less abrasiveness and deformation as well as a mixture with other different materials, while the internal characteristics included a story arousing consumers' empathy, and scarcity without the same design due to the limitation of material.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.95-111
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• 2019

This study is the 2nd report following "A Study on the Characteristics of Material in the Korean Up-cycling Fashion Brands (Part I)" that handled the development of upcycling props using the characteristics of upcycling material. The 2nd report analyzed product types and materials focusing on 21 foreign upcycling fashion brands. It analyzed the characteristics of upcycling fashion materials using the case analysis of coffee bean bag and waste denim based on external characteristics and internal characteristics. We then classified the external characteristics into environment/economic feasibility and availability/mixture and the internal characteristics into historicality/story and originality/scarcity. Five bags were designed and produced for the actual commercialization of fashion products based on such characteristics of materials, with the use of coffee bean bags and waste denim as upcycling materials. This study is differentiated from existing research by its suggestions for the utilization of fashion product upcycling coffee bean bags and waste denim. Also, upcycling fashion products could be competitive products in eco-friendliness and originality that can be a driving force for the sustainable development of fashion industry through the differentiation of existing fashion products.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.108-120
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• 2023

Recently, interest in eco-friendliness and sustainability has been increasing due to the rapid progress of fast fashion and the crisis of sudden environmental changes after COVID-19. This study aims to develop upcycling textiles and express product design using digital 3D to realize a sustainable fashion industry and present environmental aspects, diversity, creativity, and new directions in fashion industry design. The research method is to develop and pattern upcycling textile designs by applying weaving techniques with waste materials. It uses the developed upcycling textile design in digital 3D to incorporate it into clothing fashion and shows the utility and practicality of upcycling textile design. As a result of the study, the appearance is realistic when outputting DTP of upcycling textile design. It endures without loosening or tearing, making it a durable and creatively expressive fashion item. Texpro 3D mapping reduces the time and cost of making actual sample fabric. Upcycling textile design and 3D CLO virtual clothing are combined to produce actual clothing samples, resulting in zero waste reduction due to cutting and sewing. This study anticipates actively and continuously advancing the development of upcycling textile design and digital 3D in terms of ethics and the environment.