Zero Waste Sustainable Design

Zero waste pattern-cutting is the designing of a pattern that will result in absolutely no off-cuts once the fabric pieces are cut – each pattern piece fits into the overall fabric piece like a jigsaw puzzle. This is an important tenant of sustainable design practices because much of the waste of the fashion industry starts with the off-cuts produced at this stage of the production process. 

The seam allowances of pattern excess stitched to the outside and trimmed with delicate hand-sewn edge laces.

The Tull-bi-telli bridal gown is an example of this method of design, in that it was cut with zero waste. In order to produce a well-tailored shape, the sections of fabric  which would ordinarily have been cut off and thrown away, have been included into the surface design and embellishment of the dress by stitching the seam allowances to the outside of the garment and trimming them with vintage edge laces for emphasis.

Tulle-Bi-Telli Dimity Bridal gown from the EcoBride collection.
Photo Credit: AES Photography 2011, Model: Samantha-Jo Chandler

This celebration of a sustainable design ethos is a successful study in the art of creating more out of less.