Overtime designer’s attitudes toward the afterlife of a garment has changed, questionably due to the masses of consumer textile waste being dumped daily but also consumer awareness of said garments being detrimental to our environment. According to the oxford dictionary, a designer defines as “a person who plans the look or workings of something prior to it being made, by preparing drawings or plans”. Implying their job responsibilities subsequently end following the primary sketching and design stage.
However, sustainable brand 'RÆBURN' articulates their belief that “it is absolutely a designer’s responsibility to think about what and why they are creating”. Perhaps it is the more high-end brands that are seeing a designer’s role as encompassing the entirety of a garment’s life cycle. From initial design to production to distribution up until disposal. I understand ultimately it is the customers decision as to when they dispose of a garment or how they value and treat said commodity. However, it should be the designer’s responsibility as experts in their field to promote garment care education and encourage consumers to shop and discard products responsibly to minimise their environmental footprint, which in turn reflects well upon the brand itself. Whether that be through using pure or sustainable fabrics suitable for recycling or offering re-use solutions to promote garment longevity.