3. Circular Open Source Fashion¶
Research & Ideation¶
Circular Fashion is studied as a new approach to designing clothing that reduces waste, extends product life, and encourages reuse. The goal is to rethink the entire lifecycle of a garment—from materials, production, and use, to how it can be repaired, remade, or recycled. One of the most effective methods we explored is Modular Fashion.
🔄 What is Circular Fashion?
Circular fashion works like a loop. Instead of creating clothes that are used once and thrown away, it focuses on:
• Durability (long-lasting materials)
• Reparability (easy to fix)
• Reusability (transformable pieces)
• Recycling (materials that can return into production)
It challenges linear fashion (“make–use–throw”) and pushes designers to create systems that are environmentally responsible.
🧩 Modular Fashion (What We Focused On in Fabricademy)
Modular fashion is a design system where garments are made from interchangeable, detachable, or reconfigurable units. Instead of one fixed outfit, one piece can be transformed, expanded, or redesigned many times.
Key Principles Learned
• Interlocking parts: Using snaps, buttons, laces, 3D-printed connectors, or fabric modules that attach together.
• Zero-waste patterning: Designing modules that use all material with minimal scraps.
• Flexible sizing: Modules can adjust to different body shapes, promoting inclusivity.
• Longevity: When a part is damaged, only the module is replaced—not the whole garment.
• Creativity for the user: The wearer becomes a co-designer by rearranging pieces.
🔍 What I Found in My Research
- Sustainability Impact
Modular garments reduce waste and production costs because:
• You reuse the same base pieces repeatedly
• Old modules can be replaced individually
• Materials can be recycled more easily when separated
- Digital Fabrication Tools Support Circularity
In Fabricademy we use:
• Laser cutting for precise modular shapes
• 3D printing for custom connectors
• Parametric design (Rhino/Grasshopper) to generate modular patterns
• Bio-based materials that decompose or can be re-molded
These tools help us prototype fast and experiment with new forms of modular clothing.
- User-Centered Design
Modular fashion empowers the user:
• They can customize style, color, and function
• One garment can become multiple styles (top, skirt, sleeves…)
• Better emotional connection → longer use
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Challenges I Identified:
• Time-consuming to design functional modules • Requires material compatibility (strength, flexibility)
• Fasteners must be durable and comfortable
• Education is needed so people understand how modular fashion works
🧵 Conclusion
Circular fashion pushes us to create clothing systems rather than single garments. Through modular fashion, we explored how design, sustainability, and technology blend to create pieces that are adaptable, repairable, and long-lasting.
This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also opens new creative possibilities for designers and learners who want to rethink fashion in a digital and sustainable era.
References & Inspiration¶
My work is informed by a combination of circular fashion principles, digital fabrication techniques, and experimental textile structures. Throughout my research, I focused on how designers and makers use geometry, modularity, and laser-cutting to reduce waste and transform flat materials into dynamic forms.
- Circular Fashion & Zero-Waste Thinking
Circular fashion promotes designing garments that generate little to no waste, last longer, and can be reused or reassembled. Key ideas I explored:
• Designing patterns that fit together like puzzles.
• Avoiding leftover scraps by using full shapes (circles, rectangles, continuous curves).
• Creating pieces that can be disassembled for repair or reuse.
Examples of Designers / Methods • Holly McQuillan – Known for zero-waste patterns using full geometric shapes. • Timo Rissanen – Pioneer of zero-waste garment systems. • Closed-loop modular systems where pieces connect without sewing.
How this influenced my work: It inspired me to experiment with circular patterns, repeated curves, and interlocking shapes that use the entire surface area.
- Modular & Interlocking Fashion Systems
Modular fashion focuses on creating garments from multiple repeating units that fit together.
Key concepts I explored:
• Slot-and-tab connections
• Repeated cut modules
• Garments that can expand, shrink, or move based on assembly
Examples:
• Kinematics Dress by Nervous System
• Modular interlocking textiles in open-source fashion
• FabLab experiments using laser-cut joinery
How it influenced my work: I created circular slotted patterns (like the first image) that can be assembled and layered to form structure without stitching.
- Laser-Cutting & Digital Textiles
Laser-cutting allows high precision and the ability to create:
• intricate cut-outs
• slits for flexibility
• parametric movement
• adjustable ventilation and transparency
References / Inspiration Sources:
• Laser-cut plissee textiles
• Parametric slits used in fashion tech garments
• Designers who use perforation for motion and drape
How this influenced my work:
The skirt image (second reference) inspired me to explore vertical and curved slit patterns that create flexibility, layering, and movement in the fabric.
- Parametric & Computational Design
These techniques use digital tools to generate repeating curves and patterns.
I researched:
• Grasshopper scripts
• Parametric lines for movement
• Algorithmic pattern layouts
Tools¶
Digital Tools
• CorelDRAW
• Pinterest
Machines
• Laser Cutter
Materials
• Leather
Process and workflow¶
Step¶
I created my patterns using CorelDRAW (curves, circles, slits, and layout). I cleaned the lines, adjusted stroke settings, and exported the file for laser cutting.I chose leather for cutting because it holds shape and reacts well to slits. I cut the patterns on the laser cutter, testing speed and power settings. I assembled and tested the pieces to see movement, flexibility, and structure.
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Assembly videos¶
learn how to add video of tutorials or time-lapse of the assembly, etc
From Vimeo¶
Sound Waves from George Gally (Radarboy) on Vimeo.