Stitching Sustainability: Threads as catalyst of change in fashion

Abstract

In the ever-evolving fashion landscape, sewing threads—traditionally seen as minor garment components—are emerging as powerful catalyst of change, empowering designers to integrate sustainability into their creative processes. This paper explores the transformative role of disassembly-enabling materials in fostering sustainability within the apparel industry, focusing on a groundbreaking case study in textile innovation.
By examining how heat-dissolvable sewing threads and thermal disassembly systems facilitate efficient garment recycling, this study highlights their potential to drive a paradigm shift in fashion design. A single case study methodology is applied to investigate an innovative approach that integrates advanced materials, automated disassembly, and circular economy principles to enhance environmental performance while preserving aesthetic and functional integrity.
Through this lens, the authors illustrate how threads can transcend their conventional role, becoming key enablers of fiber-to-fiber recycling and waste reduction. This exploration underscores the importance of viewing garment construction not just as a manufacturing process but as a strategic intervention for sustainability. By embedding Design-for-Disassembly (DfD) and Active Disassembly principles into production methods, this research challenges designers to rethink material choices—positioning threads as dynamic catalysts shaping fashion’s transition toward circularity.