Creativity for Sustainability in the context of fashion design education

Educational programs in fashion design play a crucial role in facilitating the worldwide shift towards sustainability. Future designers need to possess knowledge, expertise, and abilities to create informative possibilities throughout the design and construction process of garments to ensure sustainability. In recent years, numerous theoretical and practical ideas and actions have emerged to promote sustainable product development; however, there is a lack of teaching methods in sustainable garment construction. Integrating zero waste pattern cutting techniques, while emphasising a decolonial lens, into design practice education is crucial for advancing sustainable practices, particularly in light of the considerable gap in this area. The purpose of this review paper is to present an overview of the existing pattern-cutting practices from around the world and, therefore, promote the decolonisation of the pattern-cutting knowledge. Furthermore, this paper appeals to educators and professionals working within sustainability to bring the discussion of pre-production waste to the forefront of design education and fashion sustainability practice. Thus, this overview serves as a tool for developing the materials and workshops that can be included in the pattern cutting curriculum to minimise pre-consumer waste throughout the design realisation phase.