Ecological dyeing-printing methods and practices with in the frame of the slow fashion movement

Fast-fashion system, which has affected the fashion and textile industry, starting from the 1990s has created negative effects on the environment and human health by causing low-quality products whose shelf life is short. Toxic and cancerogenic-contented synthetic colorants that are used in printing processes in the fast-fashion system damages human health and cause environmental pollution. In order to eliminate these negative effects that the conventional system has created, a more sustainable production approach with a slow-design approach is needed. In the 2000s, the movement of slow fashion, which defends a more ecological production understanding, has developed, and aimed at turning all the steps of design and production into a sustainable state. The goal of this thesis is to present the importance of ecological dyeing and printing methods within the frame of the slow-fashion movement. Therefore, slowfashion brands that apply ecological dyeing and printing methods, the products and processes of production are examined. Nine different local and foreign slow-fashion brands are interviewed. During the interviews, presenting the positive and negative sides of natural dyeing and printing processes and finding solution offers to overcome their lacks is aimed. As a result of literature review and the interviews, it is concluded that more permanent and new design experiences can be created by using ecological dyeing and printing methods combined together. Moreover, it is found out that digital printing is more advantageous than other methods in terms of permanence.