Transformable Fashion is the new sustainable practice in the green fashion world. In this era of fast fashion, there are abundant choices at an affordable price. Here, we are going to elaborate on transformable fashion.
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What is Transformable Fashion?
Transformable Fashion is a unique strategy or method to minimize fabric waste and maintain a prolonged clothing lifespan through innovative design. Today’s Globalization has caused a diversified fashion industry to adopt convertible fashion. Many world-renowned international fashion designers have promoted the concept of ‘transformable fashion.’
Transformable Clothing:
Transformable clothing is defined as those garments and apparel that offer two or more functional styles or aesthetic alternative styles. For example, transformable clothing can be transformed into different fashion styles via different manipulative methods.
Some of the best examples of manipulating clothing are transformable by wrapping, rolling, twisting, binding, tying, folding, etc. Designers use different zippers, drawstrings, hooks, and eyes to allow users to add or remove facets of clothes or change their silhouette. Transformable clothes‘ appearance helps the wearer to be easily altered.
It could be transformed by maintaining its form. It could be fashioned by surface decorations and Smart clothing with a light-emitting diode, which could be controlled from smartphone applications. Today, transformable features can be unobservable, like thermoregulatory clothing with smart textiles that can change its clothing color to match the surroundings.
How Convertible Fashion Works?
- Enhanced surface appearance with several patterns and textures.
- Clothes are slightly stretched and adjusted to fit different individuals’ needs.
- The extra fabric helps the wearer flexibility to pull the dress up or down
Using detachable Camouflage, the desired body parts.
Transformable Design Methods
Different transformable fashion design methods have developed over the years. Today, the present study basically focuses on a modular design. Because this strategy doesn’t require the designer’s sewing and pattern drafting skills. Some mentionable techniques are as follows:
- Zero-fabric waste + transformable design.
- Transformable design + modular approach using the hook as well as eye fasteners.
- Transformable design + modular approach using zippers.
Moreover, this transformable design approach helps integrate into the mass-customization process. For example, clothing parts could be produced and offered in different fabrics, colors, and patterns. People can buy these essential clothing with additional mix-match clothing parts as well as fabric pieces. To re-create a refreshing look according to their personal needs and preferences. It’s like the picture.
Besides, if the clothing is damaged by staining or torn during use, It can easily be replaced without discarding the entire clothing. This type of mass customization has been referred to as modular customization.
Reason of Transformable Fashion is Getting Popular
Environmental activists are questioned about the fast fashion system. The main problem is overconsumption and disposable clothing. Therefore, many designers have developed several methods and strategies. Innovative design of convertible fashion helps minimize fabric waste and prolong the apparel lifespan.
There are several reasons why transformable fashion style has become popular among fashion lovers.
Transformative fashion is a practical solution to reduce fabric wastage. That allows a piece of cloth to be transformed into different looks to serve diverse different needs and purposes. It is the best sustainable fashion alternative to reduce overall clothing consumption by changing, replacing, and, or re-organizing the clothing’s parts.
Contributions have been made to sustainable practices through direct participation in the transformation process. Transformability and versatility of the transformation fashion have positive impacts and are expected to be created worldwide. These are the following:
- Consumers’ propensity to wear fashionable clothing may increase;
- The lifespan of clothing could be prolonged.
- The product’s psychological obsolescence will be postponed
- Disposal of garment waste in landfills must be delayed.
Today, most fashionable people support sustainable fashion and the idea of transformable clothing and fashion.
Advantages of Transformable Fashion
- Extended Clothing Lifespan
- Versatility in Fashion Styles
- Renewable Solutions for Sustainability
- Reduction of Overconsumption and Fabric Wastage
- Enhanced Consumer Satisfaction
- Encouraging Sustainable Practices
- Practical Solutions for Sustainable Fashion
- Fostering Positive Consumer Behavior
The fast fashion trends of overconsumption have many negative influences on the environment, as well as on the economy and society. However, the consumer purchases clothing according to their needs. Therefore, fabric waste related to clothing consumption is increasing day by day. In this case, transformative clothing comes here to encourage sustainability.
The overall benefits of transformative clothing could be summarised in the following areas: It could extend a clothing lifespan, increase the versatility of fashion styles, offer renewable solutions that promote sustainable practices, reduce overconsumption and fabric wastage, and enhance consumer satisfaction over time.
Transformable clothing needs to be more encouraged among consumers. It engaged to naturally involved in sustainable practices. Many International designers have developed fashion trends. These naturally lead consumers to adopt sustainable clothing and their behavior.
The transformable design could be one of the best practical solutions. That could encourage the consumer to participate in sustainable fashion practices while still accomplishing their changing needs.
Disadvantages of Transformable Fashion
- Design Complexity and Cost
- Limited Mass Production
- Consumer Education Needed
- Technological Barriers
- Aesthetic Concerns and Style Constraints
- Initial Adoption Challenges
- Dependency on Fast-Changing Trends
- Recycling and End-of-Life Considerations
Despite the rise in sustainable awareness, many consumers are not yet ready to pay a premium price for eco-friendly or sustainable clothing, in case willing to pay high for the features of customization, and transformable clothes surprisingly. Most consumers indicated they are unwilling to pay more for transformable or environmentally friendly clothing. Moreover, investors are not investing in transformable clothing due to its extra production costs and the concept being too new to the global consumer. Therefore, consumers need to be engaged and nurtured to have a better choice to justify their purchases. Especially when buying clothing parts to create a personal fashion.
Conclusion
Generally, the Lifespan of apparel, jackets, T-shirts, and tops, is 3-12 months. But a transformable coat or a pair of trousers could probably last from 1-3 years (depending on the style, fabric, and fabrication). But it could extend the lifespan.
Moreover, Transformable design methods need to be explored more. For example, zippers or velcro are not the perfect fasteners for transformable clothing. Collaborations and interactions among fashion designers, entrepreneurs, and consumers must improvise for future transformable fashion research and studies.
References
- Sustainable Fashion Design: Transformable Garments for Versatility & Longevity by Minjie Gong. The University of Ryerson.
- Design Functions in Transformable Garments for Sustainability Helen Koo, Auburn University, USA Lucy Dunne, Elizabeth Bye, University of Minnesota.
- https://www.fashionstudiesjournal.org/longform/2018/9/15/transformable-fashion
- https://fashionandtextiles.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40691-019-0182-4