Garment Trail: Fashion, transparency and storytelling

Overview

When you donate your clothes to a clothing recycling dumpster, you may believe that you're providing warm clothing to someone in need, hoping it will be appreciated and cherished. However, the reality is that only a small percentage of those garments will actually serve a practical purpose. Unfortunately, most of them end up in landfills, causing significant harm to the environment.

the design

To address this issue, I have dedicated my Bachelor's and Master theses to conceptualizing a design for a more transparent and sustainable textile industry. I've called the design Garment Trail. The core of the design is a user interface that presents data from the entire textile supply chain directly to the consumer. By leveraging technologies such as RFID tags for embedding data in clothing, blockchain for data validation and security, and ERP systems tailored to support the new transparent model. This design aims to empower consumers with information, enabling them to make informed choices and contribute to a more sustainable future.

the design process

I have employed a range of design methods to ensure a robust and user-centered approach. These methods include extensive research, user interviews, thoughtfully crafted questionnaires, iterative user interface prototyping, and user testing.

the findings

One of the key findings from my research is the demand for a design that offers clarity and transparency regarding which products are inherently sustainable. Users expressed a strong desire to make informed choices and support environmentally-friendly options. They sought a solution that could easily distinguish between sustainable and non-sustainable products, empowering them to make responsible purchasing decisions.

Furthermore, my research also uncovered a significant demand for knowing and engaging in the story behind the clothes. Users expressed a genuine interest in understanding the journey of their garments, including information about sourcing, manufacturing processes, and the social and environmental impact of the products they consume. This desire for transparency and connection with the clothes they wear formed a crucial foundation for the design.

By incorporating these findings into the design process, I have created a user interface prototype that seeks to address the deeper needs and aspirations of users. It aims to empower individuals to make sustainable choices and engage with the meaningful stories behind the clothes they select, fostering a stronger connection between consumers and the clothes we wear.

Here is a short show case of the UI concept: