Future → Built Creatively
“Visible Mending” is a fashion collection by Irisa Marieliza Gomes, a designer of BSc Fashion and Apparel Design 2023 at JD School of Design, Goa. Inspired by the principles of circular design and the Japanese traditions of Boro and Sashiko, the collection explores the theme of sustainability, repair, and transformation. It aims to challenge perceptions of waste by turning discarded materials into desirable fashion while responding to the growing issue of textile and industrial waste.
Techniques including the boro technique & sashiko embroidery, patchwork, appliqué, quilting, visible mending, and topstitching were used to celebrate repair rather than conceal it. The collection is designed for urban, fashion-forward individuals who embrace sustainability, experimental style, and gender-fluid fashion, keeping creativity, individuality, and environmental responsibility at the core of the design process. The design approach focuses on upcycling, craftsmanship, and innovation, ensuring that the outcome is both meaningful and visually compelling. Through research into textile waste streams and traditional repair practices, the collection identifies the potential of discarded materials to become valuable design resources.
Materials such as PVC upholstery offcuts, scrap denim, cotton lining, raw silk blends, canvas, and metal hardware were chosen to create durability, texture, and contrast. Visually, the collection is defined by layered patchwork surfaces, contrasting textures, visible stitching, and a colour palette of neutrals, rust, black, deep brown, and neon accents. These elements reflect the history, resilience, and transformation of materials. The final outcome, an avant-garde streetwear collection, embodies the beauty of imperfection and seeks to inspire more conscious approaches to fashion consumption. Through this collection, the designer aims to highlight the value of waste as a creative resource, positioning design as a tool for sustainability and innovation. Ultimately, “Visible Mending” stands as a reflection of renewal and reinvention, proving that repair can be both a practical solution and a powerful design statement.