Freecycling Izmir: an Ethical Outlook for Future Fashion Designers*

Within the context of social responsibility and environmental awareness in design, a group of students were assigned the task of designing and producing a recyc-led bag to highlight, either a specific social problem, or environmental cause prevalent in the city of Izmir, Turkey. To realise their designs, students were asked to adopt the idea of “Freeganism” whereby they may only reclaim and utilise discarded materials such as old clothes, discarded packaging and industrial waste for the production of their designs. This paper documents the process of this project from concept development, to material sourcing, design development and product realisation. It analyses the design outcomes and documents how students used a wide variety of alternative materials which, when assembled using basic textile production techniques, created a collection of usable recycled ethical handbags. This paper explores the significance of such conceptual projects in relation to raising the student conscience with regards to social and environmental problems in contemporary society. It aims to determine the necessity of reinforcing the importance of an ethical stance in relation to a future career within the fashion and textiles sectors for the next generation of fashion and textile designers. Similarly, can and should conceptual projects be used as a way of communicating and raising awareness of such critical issues amongst the wider general public.