Zero Waste Patternmaking
Creating zero waste or less waste in fashion is attainable if we train our designers to think differently. This is an exercise built to tap into zero waste thinking and can be used for students who do not yet have any experience with pattern making or zero-waste design.
Supplies needed for this Zero Wast Design Patternmaking Activity:
2 pieces of paper
Ruler
Compas or other circular object to trace
Scissors
Something to write with
As an alternative, participants can cut out the shapes after tracing and see who was able to create the least amount of waste. This works best as an in-class activity but can also work with virtual schooling.
How to Make Kombucha Leather
Sometimes being a designer is like being a scientist. This kombucha leather experiment is a great way to get students thinking about fabric alternatives of the future. Recently Public School created a shoe using kombucha leather.
Supplies Needed:
4 cups of filtered or distilled water
1 tea bag
¼ cup of sugar
Small bottle of kombucha (you will need about a ½ cup)
Plastic or glass tupperware container big enough to hold 13 cups of liquid or 3-4 mason jars
Instructions: Read ALL before you begin!
Boil water and add tea bag
Let tea steep for a few minutes, then remove tea bag
Add sugar while water is still hot and stir
Once your liquid is room temperature, add into container
Add in your kombucha, at least a half a cup
Cover your containers leaving enough room for air to get in, do NOT seal shut
You will need to store this container for the next several weeks, do not place it in direct sunlight or on top of a heater or you will grow mold.
Check the container after 2- 3 weeks, if nothing is forming, add more kombucha
Once there is a film on top of the liquid that is at least 1/4 inch thick you may remove your “leather”. The longer you wait, the longer thicker your leather will get. Keep in mind that it will become thinner when it dries.
The leather may be sticky, when you remove it from the liquid let it dry on a plastic lid, cookie sheet, or glass/plastic cutting board. It may need to dry for several weeks.
*If using small containers you can mix all in one container and then pour into your smaller containers.
*Make sure all containers you are using are very clean before you use them to avoid mold