ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: FROM TRASH TO FASHION ADORNMENT - GREEN INNOVATION POSSIBILITIES

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the crafting of fashionable accessories from waste fabric. This aims to equip small scale garment manufacturers with the potential of transforming their waste into valuable fashion adornment. It is based on findings reveled in relation to waste generated by Ghanaian small scale fashion industries and manufacturers and their waste disposal practices. The green innovation and green practice possibilities were adopted to create environmentally sustainable fashion product giving new life to fabric waste. In achieving this objective, the practice-based-research was employed for the study, this afforded the researchers a practical approach to help create value added green artistic products. The concept of material collaborations was also adopted. The main material that was used for the projects was scraps from African prints. These scraps are pieces of African prints off cuts that are found at garment manufacturers shops. The findings from the studio practice revealed that the fabric off cuts depending on their colour and sizes can be fabricated into green innovated fashion adornments. It was also brought to bear that the supposed trash from the small-scale garment industries could be given new life by transforming them into brooches, flower bouquet, flower accents and other possibilities. The success of the study provides numerous opportunities for small scale garment manufacturers to explore fabric waste materials found on their workshop floor, intend to reduce the amount of waste in the environment.