Abstract

This article explores youth as a user market segment regarding perceptions and practices of clothing design, use and disposal and what it might take to create change. Educational strategies for fashion related product design are particularly difficult to consider in terms of sustainability because of the glut of mass produced apparel and the user behavior associated with purchase and rapid disposal of cheap goods. The user needs to be made aware of the problem of perpetual buying of products that will be in the landfill within a year and to provide the designer with best practices that lead to solutions. Earlier research with designers on their perceptions and practices of sustainable design revealed the need for an updated concept of best practices and excellent prototypes. An international call to designers for prototypes for sustainable design resulted in a juried exhibition. These prototype designs motivated youth to engage in an educational workshop focused upon encouraging application of these sustainable design ideas. Their responses to questions about sustainable best practices were analyzed and findings were then translated into design principles and related educational strategies.