3 problems with sustainable fashion | Mary Ruppert-Stroescu | TEDxStLouisWomen

Sustainable fashion has become a buzzword in the past 5 years. We are told from diverse angles how to reduce fashion’s negative impact on the environment. Which of those recommendations will authentically contribute to positive change, and which create more problems? Let’s build a healthier planet while keeping the joy of fashion alive! Mary Ruppert-Stroescu earned her PhD in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Missouri. Her dissertation research resulted in the “Typology for Creativity in Fashion Design and Development,” a framework for understanding diverse aspects of creativity for fashion design. Ruppert-Stroescu cultivates creativity by stimulating the learning process through a student-centered system that supports different learning styles, continuously challenging students to increase knowledge and develop independent, critical thinking. Her professional network includes successful former students in fashion industry positions around the world.

Her research focuses on the study and application of creativity, particularly through the exploration of sustainable fashion design and production, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations with engineers and medical scientists on wearable electronic textile-based sensing systems that address health and well-being. Ruppert-Stroescu has numerous peer-reviewed publications, has given research presentations, and exhibited her creative scholarship at conferences internationally. She holds intellectual property protection for four inventions, including a patent for “Textile repurposing and sustainable garment design.” Her service-learning work has been recognized twice by Oklahoma State University. She was also recognized as the Spears School of Business Riata Entrepreneurship Fellow of the Year and received WashU’s 2022 Advisor of the Year Award. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx