SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN FASHION DESIGN: THE ROLE OF ECO-MATERIALS

Abstract

This paper highlights the growing need for sustainable development in fashion design in response to significant environmental degradation. It notes that the light industry is a major source of waste contributing to environmental pollution. The text emphasizes the shift towards using eco-materials and implementing innovative technologies in clothing production to minimize negative environmental impact. It discusses traditional and novel natural materials (plant-based leather from pineapple leaves, orange fiber), as well as bio-engineered materials (soy and «tea» textiles, algae-based fabric) and those derived from waste recycling (plastics, textile scraps). Promising developments such as «living fabrics» from chia seeds and roots, and materials grown from fungi and human-guided silkworms, are also explored. The paper stresses that despite the emergence of eco-friendly collections, their widespread production remains limited, though intensive research and experimentation are ongoing.