This project focused on sustainability, recycling, and creative problem-solving. My partner and I researched the environmental impact of tea bags and discovered that many mesh filter paper bags are non-biodegradable, often taking hundreds of years to decompose. These materials frequently end up in oceans, harming wildlife and contributing to plastic pollution.

To raise awareness, we partnered with a campus coffee stand, which collected two bags of used tea bags for us over the course of a week. The discarded bags were carefully dried; some were kept intact, while others were emptied to extract the mesh lining. I then designed a flat pattern and constructed a simple base dress using recycled muslin as a prototyping fabric. The mesh linings were adhered together to create a new “fabric” for the sleeves, while whole tea bags were layered across the bust, forming a visually striking statement.

The final garment transforms waste into wearable art, highlighting how thoughtful design and material innovation can merge sustainability with creative expression..