Save the Suits!

It’s that time of the year again when the weather is steadily getting warmer, shorts are coming out from the bottom of our drawers, and relaxing poolside is drawing nearer. Summer time is one of the best times, but with it comes minor environmental setbacks. When signs of the summer season are approaching, the first thing that I think of to do is to go shopping for a brand new swimsuit. Despite having about five other perfectly usable suits already, shopping for swimsuits is like shopping for a new wardrobe. Styles, colors, and cuts change drastically from one season to the next. To address this inevitable situation, I have come up with a new design concept to transform our used bathing suits into bracelets that are the perfect summer accessory.

My design concept once again utilizes the technical metabolism concept from cradle to cradle, which is a process of which a material is maintained and reusable through multiple product cycles in a closed-loop system. In this system, used materials can create new products or be used to replenish the lives of previously used products. In my idea of creating bracelets out of swimsuits, an entirely new product is made that is eliminating excessive waste and providing consumers with an eco-friendly way to sport a new fashion trend. This idea also will appeal to those consumers who refuse go the extra mile to recycle their used products since it gives them a personal incentive, an addition to their wardrobe. If you are even remotely interested in fashion, then you possess an internal knack for innovativeness and creativity. These unique characteristics can continue to flourish in a way that benefits both us and our environment in this technological process.

My idea of transforming used bathing suits into bracelets involves one item: a pair of scissors. In order to create the bracelet that appeals to you, simply cut a strip of the fabric into a length long enough to wrap around your wrist. To resemble the current bracelet-stacking trend, the swimsuit fabric can be wrapped around the wrist as many times as is desired. Once a solid length is determined, the fabric can be easily knotted and excess fabric at the ends can be snipped. Most swimsuits today are made out of synthetic materials including polyester, nylon, and spandex. Since these are not the most environmentally-friendly materials upon disposal, turning them into a new product such as the bracelets is a great first step to decreasing their overwhelming production amounts. These fibers are also known for durability, which means that the bracelets can be worn for multiple summer seasons. The picture below shows an example of how the bracelets could look depending on the colors of the used swimsuit.

In the reading, Cradle to Cradle, McDonough and Braungart point out that it is less expensive for industries to make new products to be shipped out than it is to build up infrastructures to process the used items themselves. Basically, the time that it takes each individual or “industry” to make new products from the old is insignificant to the time and money that our economy will spend to create foundations or “industries” that will do it for us. Making these bracelets is a direct way for us as citizens to assist in saving expenditures in the long run, opening up even more opportunity for the apparel business. McDonough and Braungart also explain the notion of a technical nutrient and what it means to be a “product of service” rather than something that is bought, used, and thrown away. Consumers of fashion items are seeking something that they can enjoy, and my idea of the swimsuit bracelets achieves that exact hope while capitalizing on sustainability.

In Textile Futures, Quinn brings up a process called “resurfacing” that is a collective approach to reprocess discarded fabrics using studio-based and digital practices. This new method was adopted early by London-based designer Becky Earley, who performs reprinting on used fashion textiles. While my swimsuit bracelets do not involve technological expertise, her idea to transform used materials into something wearable again inspired me to think along those lines. Kate Goldsworthy, also a London-based designer, ponders the thought of a future that has a “rediscovered delight in the value of recycled resources”. Kate’s analysis of sustainability in textiles also inspired me to think of an idea that would ignite this same delight within swimsuit consumers.

The reading C2CAD, emphasizes collaborative approaches to sustainability in textiles and how important it is to share knowledge and resources. The fashion industry is one where unique ideas are exchanged between many people to come up with a single trend or an entire clothing line. Sustainability can be achieved just as easily if communication regarding eco-friendly production efforts were discussed as often. My idea starts with the bracelets, but can be expanded to chokers, headbands, or ankle bracelets by collaborating with others and sharing thoughts. The apparel design process as defined by Gam of problem definition and research, creative exploration, and implementation is only successful in a cooperative environment.

My idea of transforming used bathing suits into bracelets will address the overconsumption and disposal problems we as consumers constantly battle. It will also jolt the creative and collaborative juices necessary in order to be successful in our ecological efforts. The concept of sustainability is really very similar to how simple it is to transform swimsuits to bracelets: it requires little effort and leads to bigger opportunities.

Picture: http://www.google.com/imgres