FSPC 8 (4) pp. 355–375 Intellect Limited 2021
Fashion, Style & Popular Culture
Volume 8 Number 4
www.intellectbooks.com 355
© 2021 Intellect Ltd Article. English language. https://doi.org/10.1386/fspc_00096_1
Received 1 January 2021; Accepted 1 March 2021
JENNIFER WHITTY
Parsons School of Design
Fashion systems of earth
logic and transition for this
time and place
ABSTRACT
Time and place are central concepts to the dynamic system and phenomenon of
fashion. Yet, perhaps for the first time in history, fashion seems to be out of sync
with the values, mindsets and wisdom of this time and this place. Despite fashion’s
claim to be situated in the ‘now’ or an idealized future, much of what we think and
know about clothing from production, design, aesthetics, use and disposal speaks
to, and is from, another time and place – the past – when our relationship with
and understanding of our place in nature and the earth was markedly different.
Western exceptionalism has led to a superiority of thought and action, as we have
deemed ourselves to be above and apart from nature. We behave like the planet’s
resources and capacity are infinite and limitless, ours for the taking. An anthro-
pocentric, reductionist, modernist, colonial, capitalist, materialistic growth logic
has ruled our thinking, actions and conception of time and place. It is clear that
the construction of this ‘place’ or system does not consider planetary boundaries
or a multiplicity of voices, particularly Indigenous voices. This exploratory design
article was conducted through the lens and methodology of Transition Design, and
builds on the work of the Earth Logic Fashion Action Research Plan, to acquire
new insights to develop a roadmap for change through recommendations for new
models, methods and mindsets. As the models of the past have abruptly stopped or
been put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article seizes this moment and
KEYWORDS
sustainable
fashion systems
orders of design
Transition Design
decolonization
time and place
earth logic