No. SI1 (2025): Special Issue
Essays

Sustainable Design for Healthy Communities: Fashion Activism through Service-Learning

Pdf
  • Barbara Trippeer,
  • Johnnie Stark,
  • Hae Jin Gam,
  • Phillip Park
Barbara Trippeer
University of North Texas
Bio
Johnnie Stark
Bio
Hae Jin Gam
Bio
Phillip Park
Bio
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/fh-3130

Published 14-07-2025

Keywords

  • fashion,
  • Sustainability,
  • service-learning,
  • activism

How to Cite

Trippeer, B., Stark, J., Gam, H. J., & Park, P. (2025). Sustainable Design for Healthy Communities: Fashion Activism through Service-Learning. Fashion Highlight, (SI1), 186–196. https://doi.org/10.36253/fh-3130

Copyright (c) 2025 Barbara Trippeer, Johnnie Stark, Hae Jin Gam, Phillip Park

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Empowering students with knowledge of sustainable development can inspire them to become fashion activists. This case study, Sustainable Design for Healthy Communities, demonstrates how service learning deepens students’ understanding of sustainability through real-world application. Design students engaged with concepts such as material selection, circular and zero-waste design, and lifecycle thinking, while also incorporating user experience strategies. Through rapid ethnography, students identified local community needs, built personas, and created journey maps to develop impactful, community-centered design solutions. This process shifted their perspective from fashion designers to fashion activists committed to community well-being. In collaboration with instructors and community partners, students produced a sustainable product collection, a web-based marketing campaign, and a series of educational craft workshops. These workshops empowered them to lead initiatives promoting sustainable lifestyle changes. The project illustrates how a systems-thinking approach can transform fashion education and activate students to use design as a tool for social change and environmental impact.

Pdf

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