Zero Waste Fashion Design, Timo Rissanen and Holly McQuillan

Zero Waste Fashion Design (2nd edition) is an essential guide for sustainable design practice in the 21st century. Authored by industry pioneers Timo Rissanen and Holly McQuillan, this practical handbook offers flat patterns, over 20 design exercises, and interviews with leading zero‑waste innovators—such as Richard Lindqvist, Mary Beth Bentaha and Yeohlee Teng—to inspire cutting‑edge, low‑impact creation.

The updated edition delves into integrating 3D digital design alongside historical reflections on zero‑waste garment making. It explores both subtraction cutting and digital workflows, offering step‑by‑step guidance through concepts like square‑cut dresses, tailored garments and size‑inclusive design strategies. More than a manual, it's a manifesto: a toolkit for re‑envisioning pattern cutting as a conscious, creative act aligned with environmental awareness.

About the Author
Timo Rissanen is Associate Professor at the University of Technology Sydney and a leading researcher in sustainable fashion. His work bridges social justice and design, advocating for zero‑waste as both ethical stance and creative opportunity.

Dr Holly McQuillan, Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology, is a zero‑waste garment innovator whose practice‑led PhD work positions her among the field’s most prominent voices; she champions research-led solutions to textile waste

Publication date: 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 224
ISBN:  9781350116979