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Erin Irick is an Associate Professor and program coordinator of the Design, Merchandising and Textiles program unit. Erin teaches apparel design and product development with classes such as apparel construction, fashion illustration, patternmaking, fiber arts, historic clothing, and environmental sustainability. Her research interests include sustainability as it relates to textiles materials, apparel design processes, and the fashion industry. Erin has been researching apparel and textile repurposing and upcycling for over 15 years; she is passionate about the environment and reducing the impact that the apparel and textiles industry has on our environment.
Ph.D. in Human Sciences, specialization in Apparel Design and Production - Oklahoma State University
M.S. in Apparel, Textiles and Interior Design, specialization in Apparel Design - Kansas State University
B.S. in Apparel and Textile Merchandising - Kansas State University
I believe that research should be applicable to the real world with the intent of bettering the lives of the citizens of the planet and the planet itself. My current and future research interests lie in the area of apparel and textile sustainability, more specifically, repurposing second-hand apparel and textiles into new products. My recent research has focused on the consumer behavior and the product development process of repurposed apparel and textile products.
I believe that creative scholarship should be research based. It should be an exploration of a problem or a process that results in something that is functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. Similarly to my research agenda, my creative scholarship also incorporates sustainability into apparel design. This is done through the use of repurposed materials and textile design using environmentally-friendly dyes. I have experience with various dyeing techniques such as shibori and batik, as well as digital textile design.
International Textile and Apparel Association