As modern lifestyles become busier and more competitive, people increasingly suffer from work-related stress and a range of forms of environmental pollution. In order to create a more ideal home environment for people, it is crucial to consider both the aesthetic and functional aspects of interior design. These functional and aesthetic considerations must be contextualised in terms of sustainability: material, economic, ethical, and social. The relationship between fashion/textiles and consumption conflicts with sustainability goals. People continually look for new designs, so consumption is continually increasing. However, as described by Donald A. Norman (2005) and Jonathan Chapman (2005), our sensual experience memories are stronger than our appetite for the new.

 This research project will therefore bring together the sensual with the sustainable. It will do so through the combination of digital textile printing (DTP) and the jacquard loom. The DTP has the advantage of being able to use unlimited colours, but it has limitations in terms of colour expression. However, it is possible to create more expressive designs through a combination of DTP and a jacquard loom. DTP will cut down on water use while the jacquard will allow for a more luxurious design.





Project objectives are as follows:



• Determination of project scope: sustainable textile design.


• Investigation of distinctive characteristics of sustainable textile design.
• 

Exploration of adequate eco-friendly materials for sustainable textile design.


• Create pattern designs for sustainable home textiles.


• Development of a valid framework that can be generally applied in the textile industry.


• Production of sustainable textiles for home interiors: furniture coverings, bedding, and wallpaper.





In order to initiate this research, a literature reviews on organic materials will be studied in parallel to industrial case studies of textile design and environmentally-friendly design. Furthermore, research into the five senses will support research in to sustainable design. Initial stages will consist of research of secondary sources, including literature on sustainable design, colour, material, and design trends.

These research sources will then be used to inform an interior textile design practice that will research and develop jacquard loom and digital textile printing.