How Will the Fashion Industry Evolve? 2 Taylor's University Students Share Their Hopes

Two budding fashion designers on their dreams of championing sustainable fashion globally and why it matters for generations to come

From brick-and-mortar thrift stores and pre-loved clothing marketplaces to slow fashion zero-waste movements, trends show us that consumers of all ages are indeed willing to adopt greener and cleaner wardrobe choices to reduce textile waste and damage to the planet. But one group of people in particular are in a unique position to use their skills and know-how to push sustainability a step further in fashion: those who design our clothes.

In Malaysia, individuals and enterprises like Hatta Dolmat, Biji Biji, FERN and others have embarked on the challenging journey of sustainable fashion, paving a path for future creatives in an industry that's said to be the second largest source of pollution in the world.

Numerous initiatives in the country also champion the preservation of heritage artisanal textiles like batik or tenun. The Queen of Malaysia, Her Majesty Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah is one such advocate—she is the royal patron of the Tenun Pahang Diraja initiative which trains prisoners in weaving skills to produce heritage textiles to support themselves after their release.

More: 7 Eco-Friendly Malaysian Fashion Brands to Know

While the fashion designers of tomorrow have inherited the non-trivial task of making fashion more sustainable in the coming decades, there is the hope that advancements in technology and greater awareness of climate issues will help tip the balance gradually.

Above Runway outfits made from textile waste at Taylor's University's sustainable fashion show in 2022

“The creative fashion industry and fashion designers have the power to change current trends to ensure a better future,” says Maria Sandra Wijaya, programme director of Taylor’s University’s bachelor of fashion design technology programme.

“The fast fashion culture is a lucrative business, and we understand the importance of educating students on sustainable fashion and technological knowledge,” she shares, adding that Year 2 fashion design technology students at Taylor's use LECTRA software to manipulate patterns effectively and plot patterns through a digital plotting machine to ensure minimum waste of materials used in designs. “We reiterate the understanding of sustainability and emphasise for students to have a sustainable mindset in their design thinking.”

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Last month, Siti Nur Hasyimah Ismail and Faith Aimee Choong Jia Yi were among the 24 fashion design technology students who participated in 'The Show', a one-day sustainable fashion showcase featuring contemporary ready-to-wear collections made from unwanted textile and fabrics donated by fabric recycling factory Life Line Clothing Malaysia.

In their first and second years respectively, Choong and Hasyimah share their hopes for the fashion industry and why sustainability is no longer optional for designers moving forward.

Above Year 1 student Faith Aimee Choong Jia Yi

Of course, the modernisation of clothing is overwhelmingly prevalent in our culture but I also think that heritage methods are beneficial and also beautiful.

- Faith Aimee Choong -

What are your hopes and ambitions for the fashion industry after you graduate?

Faith Aimee Choong: My hope is for it to become more global in terms of international design and branding, as fashion is meant to be shown across the world as a statement or a message. After doing the Zero Waste project for ‘The Show’, I realised that it is also important to include heritage. Of course, the modernisation of clothing is overwhelmingly prevalent in our culture but I also think that heritage methods are beneficial and also beautiful. My ambition for the fashion industry is to have a mix of these cultures to create something incredible and extravagant in a combination of East and West styles for both the young and old generations.

What does the next generation of Malaysian designers need to make the fashion industry more sustainable ?

I think that young Malaysian designers need to explore and experiment more with the technical pattern design of the garment whilst also being creative in design. It mostly depends on creativity and skill to create a garment that has never been seen by the world. When we talk about sustainability it mostly falls on ready-to-wear garments without compromising on comfort and style. Sustainability also falls on simplicity; this word could mean many ideas in terms of how it can be worn or how it can look.

Above Year 2 Taylor's University student Siti Nur Hasyimah Ismail

What are your hopes and ambitions for the fashion industry after you graduate?

Siti Nur Hasyimah Ismail: In the near future, I would like to see fashion brands be a lot more transparent in terms of what they do and the targets they set for themselves to be more environmentally friendly.

Transparency is the first step in the process. As concern for the future of the planet grows, there has been an increasing demand from consumers to have access to more sustainable products. Hence, it is essential for brands to be more honest to allow people to make better decisions when they are purchasing something.

What does the next generation of Malaysian designers need to make the fashion industry more sustainable?

We know the industry contributes to 10 per cent of the global carbon emission and 300 million tons of plastic produced each year globally. Clearly, it's impacting the environment significantly and as our population increases, so will market demands. Thus, we are producing more clothes than ever. That's why it is imperative that new designers stay conscious of what they do and how their brands are going to impact the environment because we can't reverse the damages that we have done to the planet. Ultimately, the only solution left is to be more sustainable to maintain a safe place for future generations.

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