Design strategies for sustainable fashion: developing a multifunctional capsule collection to promote responsible consumption

Abstract

This paper examines sustainable fashion design through the lens of circular economy principles, proposing a multifunctional capsule collection as a design strategy to address overconsumption. Drawing on research-through-design and life-cycle thinking, the study investigates how modular construction and garment transformability can extend service life and increase utilisation. The method combines (i) a review of design-for-longevity approaches and (ii) the development of an interchangeability matrix to maximise outfit combinations from a limited set of garments. The analysis indicates that system-level wardrobe design – prioritising interoperability, repairability, and contextual adaptability – can reduce replacement demand and support more responsible consumption practices.