Award-winning design by Ella Fidler, a Bachelor of Design Innovation student, targets sustainability within the fashion industry

In 'Scrap Yarn', Ella gave new life to textile waste. We asked Ella how her journey at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington led to producing award-winning sustainable design and about her future plans.

12 December 2024

The Mindful Fashion Circular Design Awards 2024 challenged designers and businesses nationwide to present innovative methods to extend the lifecycle of materials, guided by circular economy principles. Award recipients shared a $50,000 prize pool.

What are you studying and what inspired you to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington?

I am studying a Bachelor of Design Innovation majoring in Fashion Design Technology, and minoring in Industrial Design.

I was inspired to study at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington because I wanted to learn more about the fashion design process and to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

I knew that I wanted to move to Wellington and the reason that I chose Victoria University of Wellington over other universities is because I was also able to take in-person courses from other degrees in the university. In my first year I took an art history course, ARTH 103 Art, Creativity, and Identity and I found this very interesting and was able to link this into fashion and design.

Can you tell us about your award-winning entry?

My entry gives a purpose and new life to the textile waste that is created during the cutting stage of the garment manufacturing process.

Approximately 15% of fabric is wasted when the pattern pieces are being cut out.

The look that I designed is made up of a vest, shirt, and shorts. The vest is made from fabric scraps that I cut into strips and sewed together to make a yarn, I left the edges of the fabric raw to show the origins of the material.

The shorts are made from a larger piece of cut off material. Because of the size and shape of the material I was working with, I made each pant leg using four panels so that my pattern pieces would fit the fabric.

The shirt is made from a second-hand bed sheet that was worn down in places and could not be used anymore for its original purpose.

In which course did you produce the work and what was your experience in this course?

While my entry itself was not produced as part of a course, it is where I first came up with the idea of turning fabric scraps into yarn.

For DSDN221 Design for Sustainability / Hoahoa mō te tōitutanga we were challenged to identify a waste stream within the University and come up with a design solution targeted towards students. I knew right away that I wanted to make a design using textile waste because this also targets the waste that is caused by the fashion industry.

I designed a pair of wrist warmer gloves, that were made from the fabric scraps and waste caused by fashion students, to keep students warm on their commute to campus. I found this course very helpful for learning more about sustainability not only in fashion but also in other disciplines.

What are your aspirations for a career after graduating?

After I graduate, I want to have a career working as a designer in the fashion industry.

I want to work on making the design industry more sustainable and reduce the negative impact that fashion has on the environment, and possibly do some work in costume design as well.

Businesses that I would love to land my first industry job in are, Kowtow, Ruby, or Untouched World (also a Circular Design Award winner).

I am interested in working for these brands because they are all New Zealand businesses that have a strong focus on sustainability and are members of Mindful Fashion NZ.

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