A Fast vs. Slow Fashion Fair on the Global Impact of Local Wardrobe Choices

Abstract

Sustainability is a principal research domain and part of the DNA of the European Project Semester at the Faculty of Design Sciences at the University of Antwerp. This chapter describes how a multidisciplinary EPS team collaborated to design an interactive event, exhibit, and campaign to promote sustainable consumer behavior on a fair at the city campus of the university, with a focus on awareness-raising about fast versus slow fashion. Throughout all development stages, the team improved their work-in-progress during weekly coaching sessions with access to the sustainability-related research group and toolkits. This rich trajectory and the resulting fast/slow fashion fair triggered deep reflections on the team regarding fair fashion as well as taught them to plan a major event with many stakeholders, eco-design for the outdoors, and proactively communicate and develop their public relations and negotiation skills. It also raised awareness about the sustainable fashion cause among the students, staff, and the general public who visited the fair.