Short answer

Embrace and integrate local, user-driven practices of garment care and repair into product design and business models to enhance durability and foster a more equitable circular economy.

Field: Sustainability
Source: Sustainability (2023)
Method: Integrative Literature Review
Evidence: Strong effect

Indigenous craftsmanship, through practices like care, repair, and upcycling, significantly extends garment lifespan and supports circular economy principles, often overlooked in global discussions. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Sustainability. Using Integrative literature review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Embrace and integrate local, user-driven practices of garment care and repair into product design and business models to enhance durability and foster a more equitable circular economy.

Study

SustainabilityRecentStrong effect

Local Craftsmanship Drives Garment Durability and Circularity

Indigenous craftsmanship, through practices like care, repair, and upcycling, significantly extends garment lifespan and supports circular economy principles, often overlooked in global discussions.

Sustainability · 2023

Key Findings

01Garment durability is not inherent but an ongoing interaction between the garment, its environment, and its users, facilitated by practices of care, mending, and repair.
02A just and circular transition in the fashion industry requires placing people at the center, acknowledging the social dimensions often excluded from global narratives.

Application

Design takeaway

Embrace and integrate local, user-driven practices of garment care and repair into product design and business models to enhance durability and foster a more equitable circular economy.

How to apply

When designing products, consider how users will interact with them over time and how they can be maintained or repaired using accessible methods, potentially drawing inspiration from traditional techniques.

Project actions

01Investigate traditional repair techniques in your local area or target market.
02Consider how your design can be easily maintained or repaired by the end-user.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can indigenous craftsmanship practices in the Global South inform global strategies for garment durability and a just circular economy transition?

MethodIntegrative Literature Review

ProcedureThe researchers conducted an extensive review of existing literature to understand the interrelationship between garment durability, circularity, and the concept of a 'just transition,' with a specific focus on the role of local and indigenous practices.

ContextGlobal fashion industry, specifically focusing on the flow of second-hand clothing and the practices of garment care and repair in the Global South.

Variables

IV["Indigenous craftsmanship practices (care, repair, upcycling)"]

DV["Garment durability","Circularity","Just transition"]

CV["Global North/South clothing export dynamics","Dominance of global narratives"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Integrative approach to complex, interconnected concepts.
+Focus on often-overlooked social and cultural dimensions of sustainability.

Limitations

The findings are based on a literature review, so direct observation or experimentation might be needed to confirm applicability in a specific design context.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings depends on the quality and breadth of the literature reviewed. Validity is enhanced by the integrative nature of the review, connecting multiple facets of the issue.

Think critically

How can designers effectively collaborate with communities to incorporate their repair and care practices into product development without appropriation or exploitation?

Design Principles

"Design for longevity through user engagement and localized repair/care practices."

Designers and businesses can learn from these localized approaches to create more sustainable products and systems. Integrating these practices can lead to more equitable and effective circular transitions, moving beyond purely technical solutions to encompass social and cultural dimensions.

What This Means for Your Design

Local ways of fixing and caring for clothes make them last longer and help the environment, but these methods are often ignored in big global plans for recycling clothes.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of product longevity and user involvement in sustainable design strategies.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights that garment durability is not solely a material property but an ongoing interaction shaped by user practices like care and repair, often rooted in indigenous craftsmanship. Integrating these localized approaches is crucial for achieving a truly circular and just economy, moving beyond purely technical solutions to embrace the social and human dimensions of sustainability.

Source

Sustainability

Circularity, Garment Durability, and Just Transition: Understanding the Trinary Interrelationship through an Integrative Literature Review

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about local craftsmanship drives garment durability and circularity?: Embrace and integrate local, user-driven practices of garment care and repair into product design and business models to enhance durability and foster a more equitable circular economy. Evidence: Sustainability (2023).
Why does "Local Craftsmanship Drives Garment Durability and Circularity" matter for design?: Designers and businesses can learn from these localized approaches to create more sustainable products and systems. Integrating these practices can lead to more equitable and effective circular transitions, moving beyond purely technical solutions to encompass social and cultural dimensions.
How can designers apply this research?: Embrace and integrate local, user-driven practices of garment care and repair into product design and business models to enhance durability and foster a more equitable circular economy.
What were the main findings?: Garment durability is not inherent but an ongoing interaction between the garment, its environment, and its users, facilitated by practices of care, mending, and repair.. A just and circular transition in the fashion industry requires placing people at the center, acknowledging the social dimensions often excluded from global narratives.
What research method was used?: Integrative Literature Review.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Sustainability.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing products, consider how users will interact with them over time and how they can be maintained or repaired using accessible methods, potentially drawing inspiration from traditional techniques.
What are the limitations?: The review is based on existing literature, and direct empirical data from specific communities might be limited. The study focuses on the Global South's practices, and their applicability in different cultural and economic contexts may vary.