Explorations in Sustainable Design: Developing Solutions for Long Lasting Childrenswear

Is adjustable clothing an effective approach for developing more sustainable solutions in children's apparel, particularly for the age group of 4 to 7 years? Due to the rapid growth of children, parents, caregivers & guardians are compelled to acquire new garments frequently, often before the current clothing has reached the end of its lifespan. This practice not only imposes unnecessary financial burdens but also contributes to environmental degradation through excessive consumption and waste generation. Several studies have shown that the children’s clothing industry is experiencing significant growth. Creating garments intended for prolonged use by incorporating adjustable features can extend the product lifecycle, thereby enhancing both longevity and durability which is not currently addressed by many businesses. As a mother of two young daughters in a family that has recently relocated to New Zealand, my personal experience prompted me to investigate this gap. The frequent purchase of children's clothing has been a source of frustration, as it entails both monetary expenditure and considerable time investment, only to find that the garments become too small within a few months. Carrying seasonal children’s apparel from my homeland, Sri Lanka, and being compelled to acquire entirely new outfits for my growing daughters locally has been disheartening. Many parents adopt various strategies to economise, such as purchasing second-hand clothing; however, this practice is uncommon within the Asian community, where second-hand markets are seldom available. This inherent challenge has motivated me to seek more effective solutions. Informal discussions with fellow Asian parents who have migrated have revealed that this issue is prevalent. My focus has been to develop children apparel that emphasizes strategic longevity, ensuring durability and extended usability. Recognizing the practical benefits of adjustable children’s apparel, I have explored design solutions that support garments to be resized or reshaped to accommodate the child’s growth spurts. A particular aim has been to explore whether adjustable clothing can be an impactful means of designing more sustainable solutions in childrenswear for age 4-7 years. Adjustable features, using shirring, snaps, buttons, zippers, loops, pleats, and straps have been employed and tested to identify potential product enhancements. In designing and developing these solutions, I prioritized understanding children’s preferences, aiming to incorporate features that promote playfulness, active engagement, and personal satisfaction, ultimately offering an enjoyable and adjustable wardrobe piece. Genuine feedback from my daughters and stakeholders has continually motivated me to refine and expand these solutions. I have utilised a mixed methods approach to design a range of clothing solutions with adjustable features. In this approach through wash and wear testing I assessed the longevity, durability, and the active engagement of these design solutions to check their meaningful impact on sustainability. As an Asian mother, within my unique position, I have also incorporated cultural and religious considerations, emphasizing modesty within all design aspects. During the sampling phase of my designs, I collaborated with a cut, make, and trim (CMT) manufacturer in Sri Lanka. This partnership provided technical support, flexibility in communication, and financial efficiency in achieving the desired quality. I recognise by coordinating design details from New Zealand, sourcing materials and manufacturing in Sri Lanka, and targeting the children’s market in New Zealand presents a promising business model which can be explored in the future for the needs of the Asian market. The experimental findings and challenges encountered in the CMT process have further informed the development of a sustainable business approach. I propose the concept of “Retain” and “Remain,” which emphasizes prolonging garments’ presence in children’s wardrobes and extending their wearability in advancing sustainability within the industry. This study, therefore, will be of value to sustainable practitioners for a step towards developing a business model of testing durability, longevity to cater to childrenswear market.