Criterion A: Sustainable Design |​ Sewciety 

Name:  Class:   
 

 
Image: FashionRevolution.org 
 
Key Concept​:  Systems 
Related Concepts​:  Sustainability, Resources 
Global Context​:  Globalization and Sustainability 
 
Statement of Inquiry 

 
“Designers have a responsibility to seek sustainable solutions.” 
 
 
Inquiry Questions 
Factual:  What is fast fashion?​ ​What is planned obsolescence? 
Conceptual:  What does sustainability really mean? What is the circular economy?  
Debatable:  How close are we to a sustainable society? 
Debatable:  Who is responsible for sustainability? 
 
Design situation 
Millions of tons of textiles end up in landfills and incinerators around the world every year. This is a problem as the textiles industry 
uses huge amounts of raw materials, water, energy and chemicals for the production of their products. It is often claimed that this 
industry is a prime example of an industry that is not sustainable. As designers (and world-citizens), we have a responsibility to 
design and create with sustainability in mind. Governments, industry and consumers ask us to come up with better solutions to the 
life-cycle of textiles.  
 
Your challenge is to recycle a fabric or textile garment into another product that 
will be useful for your intended client. This upcycled product will effectively help 
to extend the life of your garment.   
Task A1 | ​The Problem 

🔎 What? 
 
❗Why? 
 
Explain and justify the need for a solution to a problem.  You need to fully understand the ‘problem’ and identify where 
you can make a meaningful contribution towards solving this. 
 

⚙ How? 
Design situation 
● Explain​ what you are challenged with to create in this unit and why it is important i​ n your own words. 

A huge problem with clothes is that they get thrown away after a couple years and the waste from the 
garment factories is horrible for the environment. This is really unsustainable. We were tasked to reuse 
an old garment and make something new with it. I think that this is a good project because we won't get 
rid of the garment and generate less waste. We may also learn tons of useful skills that will help us in 
the future. (Ex, sowing)   

● Identify​ the fabric your project will focus on and which garment(s) you will retrieve this from. You should have a 
collage (and ​possible gif​ of you wearing the garment) with an explanation of the material properties. Example H​ ERE​. 
Insert the annotated collage below. 

Project justification 
● Explain​ what fast fashion is and why it is problematic. 
 ● Present​ photographic evidence of different aspects of the problem. Caption the photos explaining what the image is 
showing. 
● You must use in-text citation OR footnotes to indicate what source you have used! 

One reason why fast fashion is a problem is because of transportation. When you transport anything it 
has a negative effect on the environment. With tons of planes and ships cruising around the world it just 
keeps polluting, and fast fashion doesn't help. Another thing that makes fast fashion a problem is its 
fast, with designers making new styles so often, people want those new styles, so they buy them and 
throw the old ones away. This makes it hard for the organizations like the Salvation Army to keep 
upcycling used or old clothes. Another downside to this is workers get low wages and poor working 
conditions.  

1​ this shows poor working conditions​ 2 t​ his shows waste 

Works cited (in MLA format using NoodleTools) 

● List​ any sources of information used in this section. That includes s​ ources of photos​ used in the project justification. 

Samprada​. www.samprada.in/blogs/news/the-problem-with-fast-fashion. Accessed 8 1

Feb. 2020.
compare ethnics. compareethics.com/slow-fashion-a-game-changer/. Accessed 8 Feb. 2
2020.  
 
 

Assessment 
Level  Descriptor  Typical features of student work 

0  The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors below. 

1-2  The student ​states  ❏ You have copied and pasted the challenge from above. You should show your 
the need for a  understanding of the challenge by explaining it and its importance in your own 
solution to a  words. 
problem.  ❏ You did not provide multiple photos nor explain the properties of your fabric. An 
annotated collage with this information was required. Reviewing the provided 
example would help you with this. 
❏ You provided a limited justification of the problems with fast fashion with no 
photographic evidence. More explanation with evidence is needed. 
❏ You did not list your sources nor provide citations. 

3-4  The student  ❏ You have identified the challenge of the project. You should show your deeper 
outlines​ the need  understanding of the challenge by also explaining its importance in your own words. 
for a solution to a  ❏ You provide multiple photos but do not explain the properties of your fabric. An 
problem.  analysis of the material was needed. Reviewing the example would help you with 
this. 
❏ You provided an adequate justification of the problems with fast fashion with no 
photographic evidence. More explanation with evidence is needed. 
 ❏ You list your sources but did not provide citations and did not use proper MLA format. 
Please use Noodletools to ensure proper formatting. 

5-6  The student  ❏ You have paraphrased the challenge of the project. You should show your 
explains​ the need  understanding of the challenge by also explaining its importance in your own words. 
for a solution to a  ❏ You provide multiple photos but do not explain the properties of your fabric. An 
problem.  analysis of the material was needed. Reviewing the example would help you with 
this. 
❏ You provided an adequate justification of the problems with fast fashion with 
photographic evidence. You needed to provide a caption that explained the photo. 
❏ You list your sources in MLA format but did not provide citations in your writing. 
Please use Noodletools to ensure proper formatting. 

7-8  The student  ❏ You effectively showed your understanding of the challenge by also explaining its 
explains​ and  importance in your own words. 
justifies​ the need  ❏ You provide an annotated collage with multiple photos of your garment and explained 
for a solution to a  the properties of your fabric.  
problem.  ❏ You provided a detailed justification of the problems with fast fashion with captioned 
photographic evidence.  
❏ You list your sources in MLA format and provided appropriate citations in your 
writing.