Design for Sustainability.A Craft Based Approach

We are today staring at a picture of unprecedented environmental degradation of planet, disparities on the social front, and failing economies. Sustainable development movement has gained momentum in the past 50 years especially in the Fashion and Textiles industry, which is the second most polluter after the fossil fuels industry. This article delves into the concept of sustainable development taking advantage of the synergies between crafts, communities and designers. Starting with historical facts about Indian traditional textiles and related communities and adding the insights from the experiences of the author in the global textile design and trade, it explores how designers in the Fashion and Textile realm can contribute to the sustainable development by taking a Craft Based Design (CBD)…