ZWDO: online educational collective sharing zero waste design thinking to make change happen in the apparel industry

80% of the garment's climate impact (CO2) is generated by the fabric. Textile waste is generated during both the pre-consumer and post-consumer stages in a fashion cycle.

At the pre-consumer stage, yarns, fabric scraps, and garments are discarded during the manufacturing process.

Typically, 15-20% of the fabric that is needed to build a garment ends up as waste, incinerated or piling up in landfills.

To tackle this issue, fabric waste must be considered in every step of clothing production, from the design concept to its disposal.

However, there is still lack of information and trainings to equip professionals working in the industry with a sharper understanding of both the systemic issues we need to address and the potential solutions that can be developed together.

Founded in 2020 by a group of female experts, Zero Waste Design Collective (ZWDC) seeks to eliminate waste in clothing production by establishing an open dialogue on the topic of garment construction and how to create a systemic method of production in which seeks to incorporate all sources of waste, from yarn waste to waste from overproduction, into a circular production model.

They develop online alternative educational resources that are accessible from anywhere in the world. This include workshops, sharing resources, industry consultancy, as well as networking events to meet the needs of industry, academics, designers, and home sewers.

In addition, they also develop methods for the design of garments that do not produce waste in their production (Zero Waste Design or ZWD). This is done through the use of creative pattern cutting and design methods to enable the careful placement of pattern pieces in a jigsaw-like arrangement.

It is their vision to build a patform that could bring all of the information on ZWD while building an international community of designers, teachers, industry stakeholders, home sewers, students, and enthusiasts.

In their interview with the Eco-Age, co-founders of ZWDC stated that people enjoyed participating in their workshops, learning, and really thinking about what they buy, how they see the industry, and building their own skills. They were also surprised that they've been able to build a community very quickly.