Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

The globalization of production and consumption has dramatically revolutionized fashion industry, one of the most complex supply chain in the world with the heaviest environmental impacts. New technologies defined a new concept of fashion, that is now digital and democratic: it is accessible, inclusive, easy, always available on digital platforms, but this is exactly why it so careless too, made of disposable, poor quality, non-recyclable products. This is the “fast fashion” reality, responsible for constant exploitation of resources and diffusion of modern-day slavery in cheap labour countries, where human rights and social responsibilities are denied. This paper is based on a series of workshops whose aim was to identify a method by which encouraging a more responsible development of the entire production process inside fashion system. Before that, the first step was analysing current scenario with the help of design laboratories, places of cooperation between universities and companies. Then various workshops were held, developing two main themes: the first one relating to environmental sustainability, according to the principles of circular fashion - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair -; the second relating to social and cultural dimensions, focusing on the promotion of awareness in companies and consumers, thanks to a dedicated and designed implementation of ICTs emerging from 4.0 scenario. Research results have been tested throughout these workshops, in which companies and researchers worked together: the final aim of this paper is measuring qualitative and quantitative effects to encourage a truly democratic fashion, identified with respect and care for people, things, places.