MA Fashion and the Environment
Sarah's experience of working in Nepal for several years on income generation programmes with underprivileged women and factories in Kathmandu highlighted the role that fashion can play in creating a more ethical and sustainable world. The Flourish Approach: Experience used well-being as it's key measure of success and created a collection of garments that were knitted in component pieces by producers locally as well as around the world and then brought together as one at a central location. It looked to create well-being for the producer by involving them in the design process and ensuring that flexibility within the production process allowed for skill development. It aimed to create well-being for the consumer by offering a customisation option, building the consumer's relationship with the garment and those that made it. Environmental well-being was considered through the use of natural and local materials and zero waste production methods. The entire concept was made possible through the use of an innovative linking method, developed throughout the project. It demonstrated how creative thinking can 'do good' rather than 'doing less bad'. Whilst co-founder, Danielle Testa, evaluated the concept's applicability to industry, The Flourish Approach: Experience, carried out by Sarah Dixon, developed and put the theories and ideas behind the concept to the test.