The Speedcycle: a design-led framework for fast and slow circular fashion lifecycles

This paper reviews a project within the multi-disciplinary Mistra Future Fashion research programme (2015-2019) which aims to provide guidelines for designers to better design circular fashion products for ‘appropriate speeds’. Researchers at UAL have been exploring the seemingly opposed approaches to fast and slow ‘fashion speeds’ through a literature and practice review, alongside workshops with industry and emerging designers to better understand the challenges for designers. In this paper the author reviews key insights from initial design workshops and proposes a framework ‘The Speedcycle’ as way to represent multiple rhythms and speeds within a product’s entire lifecycle – a graphic model that visually demonstrates that notions of ‘speed’ are relevant across all stages of the lifecycle. The intention is to develop the discourse from simply fast and slow, to a level where multiple and proportionate speeds can be understood and ultimately engineered, to improve the circular efficiency of a product.