In the first week of the Ethical and Sustainable Fashion class, Mr. Daniel provided us with an overview of the module and a detailed briefing on the upcoming assignments. This module primarily focuses on the importance of understanding ethical practices and sustainability within the fashion industry, encouraging us to explore how fashion can play a role in addressing environmental and social issues. For our first assignment, we were asked to select a specific type of public waste to research and propose sustainable fashion solutions based on it. I have chosen to focus on pet industry waste—an often overlooked but growing contributor to environmental pollution. Through this topic, I aim to investigate how waste generated from pet products, such as packaging, textiles, and accessories, can be reduced, reused, or repurposed within the context of sustainable fashion.
This week, I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Bangkok, Thailand with my classmates and Ms. Maria to participate in the Bangkok Kids International Week. I took part in this event through a collaboration with the designer brand BENT, which made the experience even more special. It was truly unforgettable, as it marked my first time working with a professional designer brand and showcasing my work internationally.
Although we encountered some challenges throughout the process—such as time constraints, coordination issues, and adapting to a new environment—we managed to overcome them and achieved a successful outcome. The experience not only boosted my confidence but also gave me valuable insights into the international fashion industry. I’m proud of what we accomplished and grateful for this meaningful milestone in my journey as a fashion designer.
Week 3
This week, we were scheduled to present our research on the topic we selected for the first assignment to Mr. Daniel. After the presentation, we were instructed to create a 70cm x 70cm fabric manipulation piece based on our chosen topic, using recycled materials. I shared several ideas for the fabric manipulation with Mr. Daniel, hoping one of them would be suitable. Fortunately, he approved one of my concepts and encouraged me to proceed with the assignment. I’m now ready to begin developing the fabric piece, using creative techniques that reflect the theme of pet industry waste and align with the values of sustainability and ethical fashion.
Week 4
Although class was cancelled this week due to unforeseen circumstances with the lecturer, my classmates and I still came to the classroom to work on our assignments. I began searching for materials to use in my fabric manipulation project. Since my concept is inspired by the issue of pet industry waste, I decided to use a second-hand faux fur coat to imitate the texture and appearance of animal fur. I plan to use scissors and a fabric shaver to carve out textures and patterns on the surface, simulating the natural fur direction. To represent the idea of animals being confined or harmed, I will use cotton threads to create a symbolic cage over the fur, and I intend to incorporate red yarn within the threads to suggest traces of blood, highlighting the cruelty often hidden behind the pet industry. This visual and tactile manipulation aims to evoke an emotional response and raise awareness about ethical concerns surrounding animal exploitation.
By Week 5, I finally submitted my first assignment, which included both the research and the fabric manipulation piece. After the submission, Mr. Daniel introduced us to our next assignment. This time, we are required to design a functional and creative bag using recycled materials—specifically, the iconic blue IKEA Frakta bag. The focus of this project is to challenge our creativity and sustainability skills by transforming a common household item into a unique, practical fashion accessory. I’m excited to explore different design ideas and experiment with the durable and textured nature of the Frakta material.
Assignment 1 Reflection
Through this assignment, I gained a deeper understanding of how fashion can respond to real-world environmental issues. By choosing pet industry waste as my research topic, I was able to explore a less commonly discussed form of waste and examine its hidden impact on sustainability. The process of translating this concept into a fabric manipulation piece challenged me creatively. Using a second-hand faux fur coat to represent animal fur, and combining cotton threads with red yarn to symbolize confinement and harm, allowed me to visually express the cruelty and ethical concerns behind the pet industry. This assignment not only helped me improve my research and conceptual development skills, but also reminded me of the importance of using fashion as a medium for storytelling and advocacy.
In the first stage of our second assignment, we were asked to conduct a brief research on bag designs, focusing on functionality and creativity. Using the recycled IKEA Frakta bag as our main material, we were then required to come up with two original bag design concepts. After completing our sketches, we presented both designs to our lecturer, who would then help us select one final design to develop further. This stage encouraged us to think outside the box and explore the possibilities of transforming a common household item into a stylish and sustainable accessory.
This week, I presented my bag designs and ideas to Mr. Daniel, and he selected “The Bubble Bow Bag” as my final design to develop. This bag is a flap-style design made from the IKEA Frakta bag material, featuring a playful and cute aesthetic. The body of the bag is decorated with a square-grid texture, giving it a structured look, while the flap is adorned with a drawstring bow detail. This whimsical touch adds a sense of joy and charm, effectively balancing out the otherwise dull and industrial appearance of the Frakta material. The design successfully combines both functionality and creativity, aligning with the assignment’s sustainability theme. Its versatile style allows it to complement a variety of outfits, making it both practical and fashion-forward.
I completed the pattern for my flap bag and presented it to Mr. Daniel for feedback. Before drafting the pattern, I spent a lot of time researching online to understand the construction techniques and structure of flap bags, especially those made from non-traditional or recycled materials. I studied various tutorials, bag-making videos, and pattern templates to gain a clearer understanding of how to assemble each component, including the flap, lining, and strap attachments. Based on what I learned, I decided to make several adjustments to my original design to improve both its functionality and aesthetic. For example, I refined the size and shape of the flap to give it a cleaner finish and added extra allowance for the drawstring bow feature to make it more pronounced and decorative. I also considered the placement of inner pockets and reinforcement areas to ensure the bag would be durable while maintaining its playful and creative style. Overall, this stage helped me improve my technical skills and problem-solving ability when working with unconventional materials.
Week 9
After completing the paper pattern, the next step was to create a toile (prototype) of the bag. This step is crucial because it allows us to test the construction and fit of the design before cutting into the actual materials. By making a toile, we can identify and fix any issues in the pattern, helping us reduce material waste and avoid costly mistakes. This was my first time sewing a bag, and although it was quite challenging, I genuinely enjoyed the process. It was a completely different experience from sewing garments—bag construction involves different techniques, such as creating structure, attaching hardware, and working with thicker materials. Despite the difficulties, it was exciting to learn something new, and I felt a real sense of accomplishment seeing the bag slowly come to life.
Week 10
In this week’s class, I presented my bag prototype (toile) to Mr. Daniel and received some valuable feedback. Fortunately, he was satisfied with the overall structure, functionality, and aesthetic of the design, and he approved it for final production. I was relieved and excited to move forward with constructing the actual bag using the IKEA Frakta material. Mr. Daniel also offered some suggestions for refining the finishing details, such as reinforcing certain stress points, improving the seam alignment, and considering more durable stitching for the strap area. His feedback helped me better understand how important precision and durability are in bag-making, especially when using recycled or unconventional materials. With these adjustments in mind, I’m now ready and confident to begin the final sewing process and bring my Bubble Bow Bag to life.
Week 11
This week, I began working on my final bag, and I successfully completed it within the week. Although I had already sewn the prototype, working with the actual Frakta material presented a new set of challenges. The IKEA bag material is much stiffer and less flexible compared to the calico I used for the toile, which made certain sewing steps—such as folding, turning corners, and attaching the straps—more difficult and time-consuming. I had to carefully adjust my techniques and use stronger needles and stitches to ensure the bag’s durability. Despite these challenges, I managed to complete the bag, and I’m very satisfied with the final result. It maintained the playful and functional qualities of my original design, and seeing the Bubble Bow Bag come to life with real materials was a rewarding experience.
Our lecturer instructed us to create a product video for our final bag design, with the requirement that the video should be under one minute. To bring the bag to life in a real-world context, I invited my classmate Geraldine to be the model, and we had a fun and productive video shoot on campus during class time. I used the DJI Pocket 3 to film the footage and edited the final video using the DaVinci Resolve app. Since I have some experience with video shooting and editing, the process wasn’t too difficult for me. However, the final result still had a few minor flaws, as I’m still not fully skilled with DaVinci Resolve. Despite this, I’m happy with how the video turned out overall—it effectively showcases the design, functionality, and playful aesthetic of my Bubble Bow Bag.
This week marked the final submission of our assignment, and to wrap things up, Mr. Daniel organized an in-class photoshoot session for all of us to photograph our IKEA bag designs. We first took professional-style shots against a white backdrop to clearly showcase the structure, details, and craftsmanship of the bags. After the formal shoot, I invited my classmate Geraldine once again to join me for an additional lifestyle photoshoot at the campus café. The goal was to capture more natural, candid images that highlight how the Bubble Bow Bag looks in a real-world setting. These extra visuals will provide more variety and personality for my presentation slides and e-blog, helping me better communicate the concept, functionality, and styling potential of the final product.
This assignment was a valuable and eye-opening experience that allowed me to explore creativity through sustainability. Designing and constructing a functional bag using recycled IKEA Frakta material challenged me to think beyond traditional fashion practices and consider the potential of repurposed materials. Throughout the process, I learned new skills in bag pattern drafting, prototyping, and working with unconventional fabrics. Although there were technical difficulties, especially when sewing the final product, I was able to adapt and problem-solve along the way. I also enjoyed the video and photoshoot process, which helped me better communicate the story and styling of my Bubble Bow Bag. Overall, this project deepened my appreciation for sustainable design and pushed me to think more critically and creatively as a fashion student.
This week, under the guidance of Mr. Daniel, our class went on a field trip to Life Line Clothing Malaysia (LLCM), located in Port Klang. LLCM is a textile recycling and waste management factory that focuses on collecting, sorting, and repurposing second-hand clothing and textile waste. Their mission is to reduce the amount of fabric waste ending up in landfills by promoting recycling, reusing, and upcycling materials in a sustainable and socially responsible way. During the visit, we had the opportunity to observe how textile waste is sorted by category, processed, and either exported, donated, or repurposed into new products. It was a valuable learning experience that gave us a deeper insight into the behind-the-scenes efforts of sustainability in the fashion industry.
After the visit, we were assigned to write an LLCM report to reflect on our learning, document our observations, and analyze how the visit relates to the ethical and sustainable fashion practices we’ve been studying in class.
This module has been an eye-opening and transformative experience that significantly deepened my understanding of sustainability and ethics within the fashion industry. Through a variety of assignments, hands-on projects, and field visits, I learned how fashion can both contribute to environmental harm and act as a powerful tool for positive change.
In the first assignment, I explored the topic of pet industry waste and expressed the issue through a fabric manipulation piece using recycled materials. This challenged me to think critically about overlooked forms of waste and how fashion design can be used as a medium to raise awareness. In the second assignment, I developed a functional bag using recycled IKEA Frakta material. This process taught me valuable skills in bag-making, pattern drafting, and creative problem-solving with unconventional materials.
The visit to Life Line Clothing Malaysia (LLCM) was another highlight of this module. Seeing how textile waste is managed and repurposed on a large scale gave me a better understanding of the lifecycle of garments and the importance of circular fashion systems.
Overall, this module helped me grow not just as a designer, but also as a more responsible and mindful individual. I now recognize the impact of every design decision and the importance of thinking sustainably from concept to final product. It has inspired me to integrate ethical practices into my future work and explore more ways to contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry.
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