Sustainable design principles are part of a core curriculum that focuses on designing for tomorrow. Offering core coursework that explores the eco-friendly, smart design, fashion students also have the option to minor in Sustainability. Sustainable design projects can be seen here.
The department is also the proud founder of the Otis Sustainability Alliance, a group of creative leaders from the fields of fashion, design, art, and higher education who are committed to advancing the environmental, social, educational, and economic dimensions of sustainability through our work as artists, designers, and educators. See Otis Sustainability Alliance.
Fashion Design majors may opt to declare a Sustainability Minor. Please see Minors for more information.
Sandy Oh ('05) and William Wang ('18) challenged students to create a collection of contemporary sportswear by recycling men's denim jeans through innovative draping techniques.
Dr. Cindy Lin is co-founder and CEO of HOVE Social Good Intelligence, a technology company that works to connect people to purchasing with purpose and meaningful data, by examining environmental, health and consumer action data together. Before founding HOVE, Dr. Lin worked at the US Environmental Protection Agency for 19 years, where she engaged in international and national water protection projects. On November 14th, 2020, Dr. Lin gave a presentation to Fashion Design students at Otis College, where she addressed the impact of “Fast Fashion” on the environment and how to adopt practices that don’t harm our environmental resources.
https://heysocialgood.com/about-us/
Prairie Underground
Direction: Design a collection of innovative, women's bridge suiting separates, grounded in various weight and finishes based on the inspiration "Lunar Eclipse" using sustainable hemp and organic cotton.
Universal - Jurassic Park
Direction: using the DNA of dinosaurs create a sportswear collection that has texture, pattern, a laundered and cool vibe for the Jurassic family. One sustainable piece can be an up-cycled garment to help create something new and unexpected.