Robyn Moore, a sophomore Art History major with a minor in Printmaking (previously Fashion Design major and Accessories minor), explored sustainability in the fashion world through her Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) project under mentorship from Noël Palomo-Lovinski, Associate Director and Professor at ֱ State University’s School of Fashion, and with support from The Environmental Science and Design Research Institute (ESDRI).
Moore investigated recycling garments and fibers to create new, more sustainable fabrics. “My research this summer was a project focused on recycled cotton fabric, specifically the processes and flaws within recycled cotton. The focus was primarily on how to improve the longevity of recycled cotton through blending and mixing various fibers into the fabric,” she explains. By experimenting with blending different combinations of fabrics, Moore attempted to make recycled cotton more durable and long-lasting.
During the project, Moore came to realize the unstable nature of fabrics such as recycled cotton. She says, “One of the most interesting things I learned during my research was how truly weak/unsustainable recycled cotton can be. Recycled cotton is notoriously known to be unsustainable and to warp/pill extremely easily.”
Moore’s interdisciplinary project was an engaging challenge that opened a new dimension of learning. She notes that, “My biggest challenge was understanding foreign concepts within my research. Coming from a fashion design background I am not the most familiar with environmental sciences and concepts within general science. The majority of my time researching was spent understanding concepts and ideas in these fields and how they relate and overlap with fashion design. This was done to better help and solidify my understanding of fashion sustainability.” Her willingness to adapt to learning the intersection of both fashion and environmental sciences adds to the depth of the project's understanding.
In her participation in the SURE program, she mentions that support from ESDRI “gave a boost in motivation.” Moore’s research contributions emphasize the significance of fashion’s impact on the environment, namely through the use of recycled cotton fabrics.