Oh No, Not Another Framework!

Sensibility, contemplation and craftmanship as a foundation for sustainable development within fashion and textile design

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to emphasise the relevance and importance of sensibility, contemplation and craftmanship as a foundation for sustainable development driven by fashion and textile design. The paper looks beyond the frameworks and tools that often guide lecturers in higher educational institutions. Within design, we have access to several newly launched and open source frameworks and method collections, but the question is how we prepare educators as well students to critically work with, contribute to and reflect upon sustainable development acting as change agents across disciplines? This position paper suggests and discusses the value of combining disciplinary expertise with cross-disciplinary teamwork. It also suggests that we fully acknowledge and implement this in our teaching and curriculums of fashion and textile designers. The yarn winding technique known from weaving serves as an example to discuss cross-disciplinary mutual understanding in combination with deep disciplinary articulation as a means for sustainable change of the fashion and textile industry.