1.11 Design for Manufacture, Maintenance, Disposal and Repair

Question 1

What is the textile industry responsible for?

Answer 1

High levels of waste and pollution across the world, in addition consumers are buying more and more low cost garments and are more likely to throw them away and buy new than to repair them

Question 2

What will minimise levels of waste and pollution?

Answer 2

Careful planning and management of each of the many stages and processes that are involved in making a textile product

Question 3

What is the first stage of processing raw materials?

Answer 3

• Natural fibres need processing cleaning and sorting before use which requires energy
• Sythetic fibres are naturally white and clean

Question 4

What is the second stage of processing raw materials?

Answer 4

Energy is needed to convert fibres into yarn/fabric. Most fabrics are then coloured

Question 5

What is the third stage of processing raw materials?

Answer 5

• Traditional dyeing uses large quantities of water. Growing already coloured cotton reduces some waste
• Synthetic fibres are often dyed during spinning

Question 6

What is the final stage of processing raw materials?

Answer 6

Special finishes e.g. crease/shrink resistance, may prolong life and improve performance

Question 7

What will the design and style of a product dictate?

Answer 7

The cutting and sewing process required, managing the process can lead to a reduction in the use of resources

Question 8

What can lead to reduction in resources?

Answer 8

• Choice of fabric: bias cut, one way
• Using fewer seams
• Using fewer components
• Using CAM

Question 9

Why is packaging important?

Answer 9

In order to protect products while they are being batched for delivery so they arrive in at the retailers in perfect condition

Question 10

What does reducing the amount of packaging required save on?

Answer 10

Resources and reduces weight which means reduced delivery cost

Question 11

What should careful consideration be given to?

Answer 11

The choice of materials used in a product and this includes thinking about the consumers requirements, it’s intended use, after care and disposal

Question 12

What are the six Rs?

Answer 12

• Reduce
• Recycle
• Reuse
• Rethink
• Repair
• Refuse

Question 13

What is reduce?

Answer 13

Modifying the design of a product to reduce the amount of fabric and components used results in the saving of materials and energy used in manufacture

Question 14

What is recycle?

Answer 14

Where a product is made into something else or resold at a charity shop

Question 15

What is reuse?

Answer 15

Upcycling fabrics to make new products. H&M and Marks & Spencer have introduced garment collection boxes in their stores

Question 16

What is rethink?

Answer 16

Rethinking how products are made or used can improve sustainability for example can they be more sustainably made

Question 17

What is repair?

Answer 17

Designing products that are easy to repair and encouraging a culture of repair makes garments more sustainable

Question 18

What is refuse?

Answer 18

Consumers can refuse to buy environmentally unsustainable products and reduced demand will lead to better practices

Question 19

What are the standard instructions for washing temperature?

Answer 19

• Tub with number inside indicates maximum washing temperature
• Tub with bars under indicates agitation required
• Tub with hand above means hand-wash
• Tub with X through means do not wash

Question 20

What are the standard instructions for bleaching?

Answer 20

• Empty triangle means any kind of bleach can be used
• Triangle with parallel diagonal lines means use non chlorine bleach
• Triangle with X through means do not bleach

Question 21

What are the standard instructions for drying?

Answer 21

• Curved line means line dry
• Horizontal line means dry flat
• Three vertical lines mean drip dry
• Circle within square means tumple dry

Question 22

What are the standard instructions for ironing temperature?

Answer 22

• 1 dot = cool iron
• 2 dots = medium iron
• 3 dots = hot iron

Question 23

What are the standard instructions for dry cleaning?

Answer 23

• Empty circle: dry cleaned
• Bars under circle: level of agitation
• X through circle: do not dry clean

Question 24

What are the effects of heat on thermoplastic fibres?

Answer 24

Washing or ironing at high temperatures can heat set unwanted creases into the product

Question 25

What do designers need to consider for the care and maintenance of a product?

Answer 25

• The fabric structure
• Applied finishes
• Garment construction
• Detergents used
• What happens during storage