In Conversation With Prashasta Andiandini on Sustainable Design
As we progress in a world in which sustainability isn’t just niché anymore but an industry standard. We talked to our resident designer, Prashasta Andiandini, to hear her thoughts and practices on sustainable design, as well as the challenges and excitement to utilizing surplus fabrics!
As a designer, what does circular fashion mean to you?
As a designer, I think what circular fashion means is to have a product that has been thoughtfully designed from the ground up. From the material of the product, designs and longevity of the product itself. Fabrics are a big aspect to circular fashion, aspects such as making sure the fabrics are long lasting and biodegradable are always in the mindset. Making sure that the products have the least amount of carbon footprint when in production and when it's sold.
When designing pieces for everyday, what aspects do you take into account? What are the challenges?
When it comes to designing pieces for everyday, I always think about the longevity of the product itself. The designs have to be timeless and can be used several ways so that the pieces themselves can be used over and over again, without it being boring. Patterns that are timeless and updated are something I also take into account. I want things to be simple, but also timeless and long lasting at the same time!
What’s the thought process for you when designing pieces that are circular? Does it push you to take a more creative & unusual approach?
I think the first thing that I think about is the material. Since we mostly use surplus fabrics, I have to think about what I can do with that surplus fabric as a base of our designs.
What consideration do you take when selecting material for pieces?
The considerations I usually take is usually making sure that the surplus fabrics are mostly classified as natural fabrics. Other than that, if there are fabrics that are not natural fabrics, I still try to make use of them since, it's still surplus you know? I can still use this rather than it being thrown or wasted somewhere else. One example I can think of is the use of buttons that are surplus, and we make use of those buttons in our collection.
Any aspirations for your designs that you want to explore more? More sustainable materials? Better design language? Etc..
I would like to or love to expand my knowledge more on sustainable materials. Since in Indonesia the standard of sustainable materials usually is cotton, tencel etc. Meanwhile in other countries, they have used materials such as the Cassava plant to create fabrics, plastics that have been processed to create fabrics and so much more! I would love to explore more on biodegradable materials as well.
