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Design+ Traditional handcrafting and sustainability

A B

Figure 17. Designs from a local brand illustrate an effective and unique way of integrating traditional patterns into everyday fashion: (A) Application of
Nhat Binh robe patterns in fashion products targeting young consumers; (B) Collaboration between Converse and La Quoc Bao’s BARO 117
A B demographic approach in future research, providing
space for both traditional and marginalized populations,
while also encouraging active youth participation
and intergenerational connection. These findings are
summarized in Table 4 and illustrated in Figure 20.
4.6. Economic sustainability
According to the globalized model of production and
economy, exploitative relationships have emerged between
the Global North (i.e., the world’s developed countries)
and the Global South within the fashion industry. These
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challenges raise concerns about fair remuneration and value
creation across different stages of production, particularly
in relation to cultural appropriation. Traditional production
techniques and methods can be linked to the ethical
Figure 18. Garment co-designed during a collaborative workshop, where consumption of clothing, offering an alternative economic
participants altered and embellished existing clothing to address physical,
emotional, and spiritual needs. (A) Hacked garment without bustle; (B) model of production networks. They also support the
Hacked garment with removable bustle attached. 118 economic empowerment of local communities through
alternative systems of economic management, production,
and distribution. As noted by Beard, ethical fashion may
55
be considered a luxury, but it has the potential for broader
appeal if consumers understand the values underpinning
these products. According to Andorfer and Liebe, ethical
68
consumption is critical for economic sustainability, as
consumers increasingly seek products that promote fair
trade practices.
Bassett and Ferraro et al. highlight the importance
123
122
of fair trade practices in agricultural sectors – such as cotton
farming – as a means of alleviating poverty in regions such
as West Africa. Ferraro et al. examine the relationship
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between traditional techniques and sustainability,
Figure 19. Representatives of the Oma people of Laos at the Lao highlighting how local communities in Scotland integrate
Handicraft Festival, 2020. Photo credits: Traditional Arts and Ethnology handicrafts to produce goods that are competitive in the
119
Centre, Laos. Reprinted with permission from OMA Māori LORE. 104
Copyright © [2025], Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative®, international market. In addition, Parker examines a case
TAEC, Oma People. 119,120 in Bangladesh where traditional fashion techniques have

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2025) 18 doi: 10.36922/DP025190027