This diploma thesis investigated the potential of post-consumer textile waste as a viable design material within the framework of sustainable and critical design practices. The primary aim was to develop a textile-bioplastic composite from locally sourced discarded textiles and a natural binder, while simultaneously questioning how such a material might attain functional, aesthetic, and symbolic relevance within contemporary design discourse. The central research question addressed how design—as an interdisciplinary and critically engaged practice—can contribute to rethinking material value systems and offer alternative approaches to managing textile waste. The theoretical component examined textile waste as a by-product of fast fashion and consumerist culture, positioning it within broader discussions on circular economy principles, regenerative design strategies, and material semiotics. The experimental segment of the study entailed the systematic collection, classification, and analysis of textile waste, with findings indicating that colour-sorting played a pivotal role in achieving visual coherence in the final material. A corn starch based bioplastic binder, was synthesised and combined with mechanically processed textile fibres to create a composite material, which was subsequently evaluated through both planar and volumetric applications. The results demonstrated that the integration of fibres significantly improved the mechanical cohesion and structural integrity of the composite. The development of design prototypes—including a lampshade and a stool—confirmed the practical usability and aesthetic potential of the material while also highlighting opportunities for its conceptual evolution. Ultimately, the research positions design as a medium capable of challenging prevailing perceptions of waste, advocating for its recontextualisation as a resource endowed with both material and symbolic value. Furthermore, it outlines pathways for future exploration, particularly in enhancing physical properties, expanding manufacturing capabilities, and supporting user-informed design that responds to perceptions of textile waste.
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