With clothing design both fashion and function come together. In recent years there has also been a focus on sustainability in the fashion industry which goes way beyond just using organic cotton fabric instead of conventional cotton or manmade fabrics. Sustainable design is the term that is used to describe the philosophy of designing objects to comply with the principles of ecological, social and economic sustainability.

Whilst in some ways fashion contradicts sustainability because the very nature of following constantly changing trends and fashions can be wasteful and also create much waste, there are some ways that fashion and sustainability can go together. Designers are implementing exciting new initiatives to help reduce the impact of clothing on the environment whilst still making it beautiful to look at and functional to wear.

The most innovative designs turn the sustainable features of a piece of clothing into the very thing that makes it desirable, fashionable or stylish. An example of this is the beautiful fabrics that are recycled into new pieces of clothing. It is the vintage nature of the fabrics that make the clothing so beautiful. Recently Christopher Raeburn has used surplus military parachute silk to make very on trend pieces of clothing. There are also various designers pioneering methods to reduce waste in the fashion industry including innovative new pattern cutting techniques which give the garment a characteristic look.

The use of sustainable fabrics is also a key part of sustainable fashion design. There are a number of different sustainable fabrics to choose from each having its own unique look, feel and properties. Bamboo is super soft, warm and comfortable and has been likened to cashmere that drapes like silk; it is perfect for leisure wear and also for draping. Designers are also constantly coming up with new materials that look great and are also good for the environment. Innovative dying techniques and use of natural coloured fabrics have also been used to create beautiful designs.

Sustainability is not just about what the clothing is made of though. It is about the overall and lifecycle of the product. How long will it last and when it reaches the end of its life can it be easily disposed of? Biodegradable materials are key to reducing waste in the fashion industry but there are also more interesting projects happening for example where shoes can be deconstructed at the end of their useful life and some parts recycled. Any clothing, shoes or accessories can be made more sustainable by designing them to last and for maximum usage. This can include classic and versatile styles that won’t go out of fashion quickly and multitasking pieces of clothing that can be worn in a number of different ways.

Sustainable design is not just about one factor or aspect of clothing that reduces the impact of a piece of clothing on the environment. It is about designing a piece of clothing that takes into account all aspects of the garment from design to sourcing of materials to sale of the product and beyond. In order to be truly sustainable designers also need to take into account social and economic factors. By embracing this philosophy whilst still ensuring beauty and functionality of the clothing, designers are helping to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

Before making the endeavor in a career you will need to start with a strong background of knowledge about fashion design clothing. The initial creator of fashion design is Charles Frederick Worth. Working as a humble draper at first, he eventually established a fashion house in the city of Paris. Separating Worth from the seamstresses who worked along side him, clients would dictate to the seamstresses what they desired, and Worth would dictate to the clients what he thought they should wear. The word couturier was created to best describe him. Sketch artists were hired to sketch the clothing so that clients would be able to pick and choose the clothing they liked. There was far less cost involved in provided a sketch, rather than making the garments and risk the client not liking it after all.

France and Europe allowed this trend to grow and spread. London became the next destination for high fashion and magazines began displaying and printing current styles. Chain type department stores would send buyers to the Paris fashion shows where they would purchase one or more garments to reproduce and sell in their stores at much lower prices. At this time, fashion had not become two distinct styles, haute couture and ready to wear. Most of the time, fashion design clothing manufacturers provided both types of fashion clothing. It was only after World War II that the roles of the manufacturers became sharply divided.

The clothing industry began to envision two sides of the clothing industry, clothes off the rack for everyday use, and the high fashion clothing from the runway. Comingling of the two styles seemed to fade away, with most designers beginning to select designing for one or the other. Times are very different today, as many couture fashion clothing items find their way into department stores all over the world.

If you desire a career in design, many of the original ideals still remain the same; even though the actual role of the designer has changed tremendously. There are many schools of design that will introduce potential career candidates to different avenues of the fashion trade. During the training process, the career minded students will begin to differentiate the different lines of clothing and begin to choose their career path. In most cases, designers will need to pay their dues to the industry before they achieve their career goals in the style of Wang or Karan. Work hard in the hard fashion industry and the rewards will come.