FABRICATION REIMAGINED: TRANSFORMING FAST FASHION INTO SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIAL

Fast fashion is the mass production of clothes that represent the latest trends at high speeds and low costs to maximize profits. The fashion industry, particularly the fast fashion sector, has become a symbol of environmental degradation, contributing significantly to pollution and waste. However, these challenges present a unique opportunity for innovation. This project explores the potential of repurposing fast fashion textile waste into sustainable building materials, addressing the environmental concerns associated with the fashion industry while meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly construction solutions. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this study seeks to establish a connection between the construction and fashion industries by converting waste from fast fashion into long-lasting building materials like interior finishes, acoustic panels, and insulation. Fast fashion has a well-documented negative impact on the environment, with resource depletion, water pollution, and overflowing landfills being the main concerns. Most garments take over 200 years to decompose in landfills, yet only 15% of textile waste is currently recycled. (Cho, 2021; Noble, 2024) highlighting the urgent need for better waste management strategies. Despite the awareness of these issues, there is a noticeable gap in practical solutions that recycle or upcycle textile waste effectively. This study proposes a fabric recycling plant that transforms textile waste into architectural materials. Using a fluid, fabric-based system designed for integration into buildings with an emphasis on reuse and adaptability. I approach this challenge with a dual perspective, having been a fast fashion consumer, as most people are, as well as an advocate for sustainable building materials. This allows me to fully grasp the opportunities and challenges facing both industries. The transformation of fast fashion waste into building materials represents a modern solution to the contemporary problems of waste and environmental degradation. This research holds the promise of not only reducing textile waste but also reshaping industries, fostering a more sustainable future, and turning the byproducts of consumerism into the building blocks of tomorrow.