New Zealand is well known for manufacturing high-performance, high-quality, durable, and long-lasting outdoor clothing, with brands including Cactus Outdoor, Wear on Earth, and Earth Sea Sky based in Christchurch. However, little is known about how manufacturers design for garment longevity, how consumers perceive quality and durability, and how these factors influence sustainability outcomes throughout a garment's life cycle.
This project aims to gain insights into garment longevity and sustainability within New Zealand's outdoor clothing industry, focusing on understanding how design decisions influence product durability, repair, reuse, and end-of-life outcomes. The project will use semi-structured interviews to investigate relationships between subjective (perceived) and objective measures of quality, garment durability, repair and maintenance practices, and disposal behaviours. Particular attention will be given to understanding product design features, repair-for-life initiatives, and manufacturing practices that contribute to extending garment lifespan and reducing textile waste. Building on these insights, the project will explore opportunities for circular economy approaches, including garment repair, refurbishment, reuse, material recovery, and textile repurposing.
The project is suited to students interested in engineering design, sustainability, and product development. The successful candidate will gain experience in industry engagement, interview-based research, and analysing how design decisions influence product longevity, repairability, and lifecycle outcomes
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: George Stillwell
Other Supervisor(s): Bahareh Shahri
Application and funding
This is a UC Commitments Summer Scholarship research project. Emailed applications will not be considered. Find out more here: University of Canterbury Scholarship Portal - UC Commitments Summer Scholarship
Final date for receiving applications
25 September 2026
