Fashion Designer Sustainability & Ethical Fashion 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the term 'fast fashion' refer to in the fashion industry?
- High-speed sewing techniques used in luxury ateliers
- Rapid production of high volumes of trend-based clothing at low prices (Correct answer)
- Fashion shows that are completed in under an hour
- Athletic wear designed specifically for speed sports
Correct answer: Rapid production of high volumes of trend-based clothing at low prices
Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of large quantities of inexpensive, trend-driven clothing that quickly moves from runway concepts to retail stores.
Question 2: Which certification indicates that a textile product has been made from organically grown fibers using environmentally responsible processes?
- Fair Trade Certified
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) (Correct answer)
- B Corp Certification
Correct answer: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certifies textiles made from organically grown fibers using environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing from farm to finished product.
Question 3: What is 'upcycling' in the context of sustainable fashion design?
- Selling altered clothes at higher prices on resale platforms
- Transforming waste materials or discarded garments into new, higher-value products (Correct answer)
- Upgrading factory equipment to improve production efficiency
- Increasing the price of vintage clothing based on rarity
Correct answer: Transforming waste materials or discarded garments into new, higher-value products
Upcycling involves creatively transforming discarded or waste materials into new garments or accessories of higher quality or environmental value, preventing waste.
Question 4: A 'capsule wardrobe' promotes sustainability primarily by:
- Using capsule-shaped storage to organize clothing efficiently
- Buying an entirely new wardrobe each fashion season
- Investing in a small number of versatile, timeless pieces that reduce overconsumption (Correct answer)
- Purchasing only designer brand-name items for longevity
Correct answer: Investing in a small number of versatile, timeless pieces that reduce overconsumption
A capsule wardrobe encourages buying fewer, higher-quality, versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched, significantly reducing overconsumption and textile waste.
Question 5: What does 'greenwashing' mean in the context of the fashion industry?
- Dyeing fabrics using plant-based green pigments
- A legitimate third-party environmental certification process for brands
- When companies make misleading or unsubstantiated claims about their environmental practices (Correct answer)
- Washing garments in cold water to reduce energy consumption
Correct answer: When companies make misleading or unsubstantiated claims about their environmental practices
Greenwashing occurs when brands make exaggerated or false environmental claims to appear more sustainable than they actually are, misleading conscious consumers.
Question 6: Which of the following materials is generally considered most environmentally sustainable for fashion production?
- Virgin polyester derived from petroleum
- Conventional cotton grown with pesticides and heavy irrigation
- Recycled PET (rPET) fabric made from plastic bottles (Correct answer)
- Virgin nylon produced from petrochemicals
Correct answer: Recycled PET (rPET) fabric made from plastic bottles
Recycled PET (rPET) fabric repurposes plastic bottles destined for landfills and requires significantly less energy and resources than producing virgin polyester.
Question 7: What is 'deadstock fabric' in sustainable fashion?
- Fabric that has been worn out and is no longer usable
- Surplus or leftover fabric from manufacturers that would otherwise go to waste (Correct answer)
- Fabric made from fibers derived from deceased animals
- Archived fabric stored permanently in a designer's collection
Correct answer: Surplus or leftover fabric from manufacturers that would otherwise go to waste
Deadstock fabric refers to surplus or leftover material from manufacturers or retailers that sustainable designers repurpose to create new garments, preventing unnecessary waste.
Fashion Designer Sustainability & Ethical Fashion 1
What does the term 'fast fashion' refer to in the fashion industry?