Overseas Sid Lee

Circular Design for Fashion

Co-Creating Complete Guidelines for Redesigning the Future of Fashion

Textile mills generate one-fifth of the world’s industrial water pollution. Dedicated to their goal of creating a circular economy, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation commissioned Sid Lee to co-create the ultimate guide to redesign the future of fashion. The Circular Design for Fashion book shows designers how to apply the three principles of circular design: eliminate waste, circulate products, and regenerate nature.

Circular inside-out, the book was made using a planet-positive printing process run on 100% renewable energy and generating zero-waste. Every part of the production was taken into account to achieve carbon neutrality, from the page format to maximize paper use to the waterless and alcohol-free offset press.

Each section was designed to reflect a unique fashion collection, using an electric and colorful iconography. Graphic elements were inspired by sewing stitches, patterns and symbols linked to the world of couture. The CMYK colors were reinterpreted by switching them to Pantone inks to match the Foundation’s brand palette while giving the printed object a surprising and distinctive finish.

As a result of collaborating with more than 80 design practitioners, including big brands, independent labels, fashion designers, fabricants, and resale specialists from all around the world, the project was able to reach and inspire a vast community.