Skins+Fabrications: Addressing Fashion and Clothing Waste

Author

Renee PalmerFollow

Date of Submission

Spring 5-9-2022

Degree Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Architecture

Department

Architecture

Committee Chair/First Advisor

Michael Carroll

Abstract

Articles of clothing; they are the second organ, the Second Skin. Their functions are to protect the body from the harsh external elements and create a sense of design with Fashion—the same as exterior facades on a building. However, where architecture and Fashion differ is sustainability.

The Global fashion industry contributes 10% of greenhouse emissions. From that 10%, about 13 million tonnes of clothing waste ends up in landfills or burned. Most of the waste comes from the Fast Fashion Industry, which sees cheap labor from underdeveloped countries to maximize profits. These companies will spend a good portion of their funding promoting sales with trends and new collections every two weeks. What happens is the loss of value allows consumers to purchase clothing cheap enough to through away without second thoughts.

Compared to American homeownership, the value and appreciation for giving architecture allow for a system of upkeep and recycling. So why not the same be said about Fashion? The amount of natural resources used in creating new clothing causes a strain on the environment. So the narrative is developing a system in place in sustainable Fashion with architecture.

Location plays a vital role in design; statistically, America, Europe, China, and India see the most clothing consumption. The thesis looks at redeveloping an existing site in a redeveloping neighborhood due to a Graduate thesis of the Atlanta Beltline. It sets a precedent for sustainability and challenges the use of interconnected Urban space.

With the location, the program's innovation utilizes the development of sustainable spaces with the placement of different fabrication rooms. Only when the clothing is fully decaying can the use of a tectonic facade occur. In doing so, the thesis must investigate Clothing material to find the conclusion to the thesis statement.