Sustainable Textiles for Health and Well-being: An Investigation of Curricular Opportunities for Fashion Design and Interior Design Student Collaboration

Abstract In 2021, a team of design faculty launched an interdisciplinary collaboration intended to identify cross-curricular development opportunities that emphasize sustainable textile attributes across both the fashion and interior design disciplines. The project, funded by Cotton Incorporated, highlights a shift in industry focus towards an evolving emphasis on health and well-being, acknowledging the impact COVID-19 has had on consumer behavior. These consumers tend to be more mindful of the material components used in their products and living spaces and more responsive to materials associated with sustainable development. In light of ongoing pandemic concerns, attention to consumer attitudes may impact design practitioners and design educators. In response to this call to action, the faculty team began examining opportunities for cross-collaboration, which could address a blend of environmentally conscious healthy living through design. Our starting point began with developing a literature review based on a search for comparable methodologies for enhanced textile-based curricular activities involving fashion and interior design. Our findings indicate opportunities where material selection systems may align across disciplines in facilitating sustainability education by empowering students with a more comprehensive understanding of potentially healthier materials. While this initial investigation is occurring in the context of the CTN INC grant requirements, our intention is for multidisciplinary collaboration between faculty and students to continue as standard practice within academia.