Degree Project Proposal

2 min readJan 12, 2021

1. Design question

How might we encourage young people to make sustainable fashion choices when they need to purchase new clothes?

2. Sub-questions

How might we highlight affordable, sustainable options?
What are the stigmas surrounding thrift shopping?
Can people of different income levels coexist in the secondhand clothing community?
How might we encourage the purchasing of long-lasting garments?
What are the current environmentally-conscious methods of cleaning out closets?
Are there ways to combat consumerism and trendy culture?
How does trendy culture promote extreme pricing on secondhand clothing platforms?
How can we get the most use out of the things already in our closet?
If people must buy new clothing, what is the most conscious way they can spend their money?
How do we educate consumers about the harmful effects of the fast fashion industry?

3. Proposed audience

older teenagers and young adults (16–25) in small cities (ex: Fayetteville) who express themselves through fashion
ready to hold an opinion/ready to act

4. Learning outcomes

Highlight the environmental and social harm, particularly in developing countries, of the fast fashion industry.
How to encourage sustainable fashion choices across the gender spectrum.
Learn about why people choose to shop at fast-fashion retailers.
How far can we advocate for the conservation of clothing?

5. Description of exploration

By using interviews, surveys, and online resources, I’ll seek to learn about 16–25 year-olds’ current fashion habits. Where do they shop? How often do they shop? What’s the makeup of their closet (first-hand vs. second-hand)? I will need to find out how I can bridge their closet/budget needs and the needs of the environment. How much work will I need to do to make people care? Or, do people already care and are ready to act but have barriers in their way? What are these barriers? Conducting my preliminary research will allow me to sketch different solutions.

6. Project signiﬁcance

With the increased accessibility of online shopping and the desire to be on-trend exacerbated by social media, people are buying clothes at an unprecedented rate. The fast-fashion industry damages the environment and put communities at risk — damage largely unseen by western civilizations but harbored in developing countries. This includes water consumption levels that lead to droughts, microplastic ocean pollution, carbon emissions, and women working for low-wages. By contributing to the conversations that encourage sustainable fashion choices, this project may mobilize a new wave of young consumers to demand ethical practices within the fashion industry and beyond.

7. Support materials

Written by Salma Alonso