Eco-tech fashion project: collaborative design process using problem-based learning

ABSTRACT

Currently, ecological values and technological changes in the fashion industry seem to follow two key trends. Scaturro [(2008). Eco-tech fashion: Rationalizing technology in sustainable fashion. Fashion Theory, 12(4), 469–488] suggested the eco-tech concept, which consists of ecological practices through alternative technological mediations. Based on this concept, this project aimed to develop creative and unconventional upcycled ready-to-wear fashion as a material manifestation and to promote the upcycling process with 3D moving images to potential consumers as a digital category. Another goal was to evaluate the efficacy of industry-driven, interdisciplinary collaborations using a problem-based learning (PBL) approach. Integrated PBL and the closed-loop or reiterative PBL of Barrows’s taxonomy [(1986). A taxonomy of problem-based learning methods. Medical Education, 20(6), 481–486] were adopted for this course. Next, six hierarchical steps were devised to showcase the integrated PBL models.

KEYWORDS:

• Eco-tech
• upcycling
• fashion
• collaboration
• problem-based learning

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank the brand, RE;CODE, Kolon Industries, Inc., the association of Seoul sewing industries, and student participants for supporting and helping this collaborative project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by Hansung University.