Fashion Institute of Technology students turn used muslin into compost

Sustainability and fashion are two topics that have become inextricably woven in the past couple of years, as many designers are searching for ways to work in a more sustainable manner. Lydia Baird and Willa Tsokanis, who are both enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology’s (FIT) programme in Textile Development and Marketing, were also looking for a way to make fashion more sustainable and thus started the ‘’Muslin Compost System’’. With the project running for several months now, Baird and Tsokanis deemed the compost to be ready for use.

Many fashion designers heavily rely on cotton muslin, as the material is great to use for the creation of early samples and testing sewing techniques and so forth. Yet, once the designer has finished working with the fabric, it is often disposed as the material is too delicate to be used for actual clothes. Baird and Tsokanis wanted to give muslin a second life, and placed bins on the campus where they mixed used muslin with organic matters such as food leftovers. They let the concoction stay in the bin for approximately five months, which transformed it to compost that is now used for FIT’s Natural Dye Garden. The plants and flowers which are planted on FIT’s rooftop are used by other fashion students who are experimenting with natural dye processes. By connecting the two projects, Baird and Tsonakis have made their project even more of a success.

“It is hard to know what seed you are planting in their minds, but hopefully these future designers will become more conscious of where material comes from and where it goes,” said Baird, thereby referring to the FIT students who will hopefully profit from the project she started with her classmate. “Maybe the project will open up their minds and help them approach fashion design a little differently.”

Textile Development and Marketing professor Jeffrey Silberman also believes both sustainable projects are very beneficial for the school. “These projects provide mechanisms for students to reach back into agriculture as a point of origin, and forward through the supply chain to biodegradation and recycling.” He also added that he thought of both projects as very educative in learning students more about the complete supply chain.

Image credit: FIT Facebook