In the current era of climate emergency, this research responds to the growing need to develop more responsible approaches to designing, making and owning garments.Current approaches to extend the garment lifecycle are often focused on the ability for garments and materials to be reused, more emphasis on wearers’ relationship with garments could offer innovative approaches to encourage behaviour change. Fashion education is often viewed as contributing to unsustainable practices; however, education has the promise to transform approaches to fashion design for sustainability.

This research project is embedded in a Further Education context, with the potential for its impact to ripple to the surrounding context and participants future practices. The project intention was to develop pedagogical approaches that actively involving
the wearer of a garment in the design process. Collaboration between designers and wearers takes advantage of the required skill and experience of the designer, and takes account of the wearers’ requirements. Working collaboratively as a group has
the added value of sharing skills; the development of a positive making environment; contribution to a common goal; and finding a community of like-minded people. The iterative fieldwork allowed for approaches to be reflected on and refined, to ensure appropriate levels of participation for both designer-makers and user-makers. From the insights and themes that emerged, a set of five recommendations has been developed that could be used within education to create change. These recommendations include active and equal engagement by both designer-makers and user-makers;
ensuring the user-maker has an input in the making process; ensuring a supportive workshop environment; working towards a shared goal; and providing opportunities for engagement beyond the workshop series. As a result of participation, a group of
designer-makers were empowered to set up a Sustainability Collective based within the FE context to promote responsible design and consumption behaviours.