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Advancing Sustainability in Fashion Accessories: a Circular Economy Approach

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Abstract

Circular economy is an important concept in achieving sustainability. The fashion industry creates enormous amounts of waste that ends up at landfill sites. Therefore, through a circular economy, the fashion industry can reduce the quantity of waste generated. This study aimed to demonstrate the practical application of circular economy in the fashion accessories sector in Ghana. Using pull tabs from used cans, combined with thread, and using a crocheting technique, the paper demonstrates a practical use of circular economy approach in designing and making fashion accessories products in Ghana. Six products were designed and created from pull tabs from used cans and thread. The products were tested to ensure that they were fit for purpose. It was suggested that these designs and products could be commercialised in Ghanaian society and beyond as they represent the cultural and global modern trends in the fashion accessories industry. Besides, due to the low-cost nature of the whole product design and making of the necklaces and earrings, it was suggested that those doing craftwork in low-socio-economic areas may use it as an economic activity. It is recommended that policymakers and the government of Ghana should develop policies that will make it attractive for those in craft-making to adopt such practices and this can attract industry leaders in the Ghanaian fashion accessories sector to consider the outcomes of this study. Many other countries similarly situated can adopt the findings and contextualise it to their settings. This paper is original in its form because it is the first to adopt the principles of circular economy in fashion accessories in Ghana.

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Fig. 1

Source: https://lasersurgery.com/split-stretched-earlobe-repair/

Fig. 2

Source: Photo by the Author (2023)

Fig. 3

Source: Photo by the author (2023)

Fig. 4

Source: Villari [52]

Fig. 5

Source: Author’s studio work photos (2022)

Fig. 6

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2022)

Fig. 7

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2022)

Fig. 8

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2023)

Fig. 9

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2023)

Fig. 10

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2023)

Fig. 11

Source: Author’s Design/Product Outcome (2023)

Fig. 12

Source: Photo by the researcher (2023)

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Data Availability

N/A. However, the author is happy to send copies of the designed items if required.

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Acknowledgements

I acknowledge the help I received in the form of comments and feedback to improve the original article from colleagues, friends, and students who participated in the initial and final stages of the action research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi - Campus, Kumasi, Ghana

    Josephine Aboagyewaa-Ntiri

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  1. Josephine Aboagyewaa-Ntiri
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Correspondence to Josephine Aboagyewaa-Ntiri.

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This research was purely on design basis, and therefore, it did not use any participant in data collection and analysis.

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Aboagyewaa-Ntiri, J. Advancing Sustainability in Fashion Accessories: a Circular Economy Approach. Circ.Econ.Sust. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-023-00317-7

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