麻豆精选

麻豆精选Fashion School Committed to Sustainability

麻豆精选鈥檚 Fashion School continuously finds ways to innovate. Its unique lifestyle boutique, Fashion School Store (FSStore), in downtown Kent recently added a new line called 鈥淪ustainability RETOLD.鈥 This collection includes sustainably made clothing, featuring work from five different students and three faculty.
 
During the Spring 2019 semester, Kendra Lapolla, FSStore director, and assistant professors Chanjuan Chen and Lauren Copeland received a grant from the FSStore to create a collaborative student collection. Students were provided a concept board and encouraged to rethink sustainability for the FSStore. Students then submitted ideas which were selected by a variety of Fashion School faculty, resulting in the creation of 鈥淪ustainability RETOLD.鈥
 
鈥淭he faculty involved are focused on sustainability research and wanted to see this develop into products for the Fashion School Store,鈥 Lapolla said. 鈥淲e thought of the RETOLD concept as an evolving idea for future semesters to rethink different concepts, starting with Sustainability for this fall 2019.鈥
 
This collection features clothing and accessories made from upcycled materials and environmentally friendly items such as candles and soaps. In recent years, upcycling and sustainable fashions have gained more popularity in the industry.

The fashion industry is quite detrimental to the environment,鈥 Lapolla said. 鈥淏y trying to close the loop through upcycling or second-hand purchases, we can help to eliminate waste. This process helps reduce the environmental impact by creating something new and not having to go through the entire manufacturing process again.鈥
 
Some of the highlights from the collection include a knit dress designed by Joelle Genco, 鈥19,  a fully fashioned knit that eliminates waste and is made in the TechStyleLAB; an upcycle guidebook to encourage others in the upcycling process, along with upcycled pieces designed by Margaret Busche, 鈥19, and graduate student, Evelyn Rossol; a print by Alysha Parkhurst, 鈥19, inspired by birds; and illustrations by Arin Weinstein, fashion design major, are displayed on greeting cards, planners and available as limited edition prints.

Sustainability is also taught in the school鈥檚 curriculum at a variety of levels.

The school currently offers a new course, Fashion School Store Learning Lab, focused on creating the store's next line, (r)EVOLUTION RETOLD. The class contains 15 students who are working to bring new ideas to life for the FSStore. The school also offers a course created by No毛l Palomo-Lovinski, associate professor, called Sustainability in Fashion, focusing on sustainability and social responsibility in fashion.

We have a variety of projects for students in studio course to challenge the current system,鈥滾apolla said. 鈥淭he Fashion School also actively has textile recycling bins throughout the building so that any scraps or unused fabric can be collected and used for other purposes.鈥

The school graduates approximately 350 students each year, who work across the globe in many levels of the fashion industry.

鈥淚n teaching fashion courses over the past six years, I have continually seen growth in students that are actively engaged in considering thoughtful ways to challenge the fashion industry towards a more sustainable direction,鈥 Lapolla said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hopeful that what they've learned regarding sustainability at 麻豆精选will make them impactful change agents in this industry.鈥
 
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POSTED: Thursday, November 14, 2019 10:33 AM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 09:36 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Olivia Boris