Transforming Waste Fabrics into Art: Collaborative Innovations in Textile Design and Sculpture

Abstract

This study investigated the transformation of waste fabrics into collaborative sculptural artworks with a focus on sustainability, cultural relevance and innovative art education. Anchored in Ecocriticism, Material Culture Theory and the Anthropology of Art, the research situated textile based sculpture within broader discourses of environmental responsibility and cultural identity. Using a life-size camel sculpture as a case study, discarded fabrics were collected, categorised and repurposed through processes such as armature construction, fabric layering and surface treatment. The findings highlighted three key outcomes: first, the expressive and structural versatility of fabric waste as a sculptural medium; second, its ecological value in diverting significant amounts of textile waste from landfill; and third, its pedagogical potential in fostering sustainable practices within art and design education. The study also identified challenges including limited scholarly discourse on textile-based sculpture, lack of integration in art curricula and prevailing reliance on traditional materials. By demonstrating how discarded fabrics could be re-contextualised into meaningful works of art, the research contributed to sustainable design discourse, offered practical models for art pedagogy and extended the creative boundaries of sculpture. It concluded by recommending that art institutions, policymakers and cultural bodies adopt textile sculpture as a sustainable medium for both studio practice and public art engagement