Columbia’s Fashion Studies Department is Striving for Sustainability

The students were challenged to make carry-on bags that could fit under an airplane seat and had to be made from re-purposed fabric from banners.

The students that participated were a part of a course in the department called “design for change,” taught by professor Elizabeth Shorrock.

Shorrock described the competition as consisting of three day-long workshops. On day one, they learned about the United Airlines’ marketing tactics, sat in on a focus group and sat in one of their planes to check the size requirements.

“The whole day was jammed packed with really good information about what its like to be a person traveling with a bag,” Shorrock said.

The last two days they focused on getting ten design ideas and then finalizing those ideas for their final bag designs.

Dillon Halford, a freshmen student who participated in the competition, drew inspiration from designer Issey Miyake, who has previously made zero-waste garments out of recycled textiles.

“Using the same approach I designed a bag I feel can be modern and used approximately 95% or more of the textile,” Halford said.

The designs were made in collaboration with Re: New, a not–for-profit organization that provides training and employment for refugee women throughout America.

All proceeds will go to support Re: New and the Alto Mayo Forest Carbon Project.

“As part of our Eco-Skies commitment, we are excited to give these banners a second life, and know our customers will enjoy taking home a piece of the friendly skies,” said Angela Foster-Rice, United Airlines Managing Director of Environmental Affairs and Sustainability in an official press release.

United Airlines put the bags in its online shop Oct. 13th and they sold out in a matter of days.

“It felt incredible to have my product produced, advertised, and sell out,” Halford said.

In Spring 2014 and 2015 the fashion studies department participated in Eye on India, an annual festival that features Indian visual and performing arts.

Columbia students created “The Zero Waste Sari Project” to showcase at the event. In 2014, the creations were shown at Willis Tower. The 2015 creations were shown at the Bridgeport Arts Center.

For the project, they utilized the zero-waste theory to make their garments by using the fabric of donated saris.

“They used all the parts of the fabric to create contemporary American products,” said Arnab Majumdar, an assistant professor in Columbia’s fashion studies department.

“[sustainability] has been integrated in small amounts, I think more should be done,  I don’t think it’s comprehensive enough,” he said.