26 Apr MFA Thesis Advising 2017: Wajiha Pervez

Wajiha Pervez’s oral thesis defense today was an inspired examination of circular economies. She expertly shared her material explorations in paper-making and reused jeans from the fashion industry, sparking an exciting discussion about sharing this information with the VCUarts Qatar community through classes or workshops. Wajiha’s work is a critical examination of the hospitality industry’s throwaway culture and how a more mindful approach to production systems can help the environment.

Check out Wajiha’s thesis and more great work at the upcoming BFA + MFA exhibition this Saturday, April 29 at 3 pm at VCUQatar. Looking forward to seeing you there! 

Thesis Title: Design for Disassembly – A Circular Approach

Abstract: As the world becomes increasingly aware of the need to better care for the environment, innovative business models are helping to counter the damage of the fast fashion system – a phenomenon in the fashion industry whereby production processes are expedited in order to get new trends to the market as quickly and cheaply as possible. Designing products with a focus on their renewability can shift the product-consumer relationship. The closed-loop concept of a “circular economy” is emerging as a viable and promising solution to the current linear business model. This study explores the possibilities of a more mindful approach to systems of production and consumption through material explorations using plastic from water bottles, paper from old newspapers and magazines, and fabric leftovers from pattern making within a circular economy. It considers the generative and renewable approaches in redefining how fashion engages with the components and raw materials of the industry. The research demonstrates a circular approach to the production of hospitality accessories in an effort to develop new intersections between products, materials, and consumers. The accessories are designed using discarded, reformulated denim–an abundant and underutilized byproduct of the fashion industry­–to reduce waste that currently occurs every time hotel chains and airlines produce disposable giveaway products from new materials.

First Advisor: Denielle Emans
Second Advisor: Diane Derr
Third Advisor: Richard Blackwell
Fourth Advisor: Micheal Wirtz

Read the full thesis document at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/4773/