Breaking barriers to sustainable costume design: a community-driven approach with German theatres

The Circular Costume Design Lab (CCD Lab) is a participatory initiative exploring sustainable practices in costume design and making within the German theatre industry. Preliminary research suggested that theatre costume making is a tradition-based craft with limited agency for systemic change. The CCD Lab aimed to understand how tightly knit communities of costume professionals perceive and experience environmental and social sustainability, and how broader social, cultural, and political forces shape their work towards sustainability in state-funded and independent theatres. The CCD Lab consisted of eight online workshops co-developed by two costume makers and researchers in collaboration with two professional associations. The workshops engaged
23 costume professionals over two months. This paper outlines the workshop topics, the methodologies used, and the key learnings derived from the group conversations and activities. The study provides insights into the
specific needs and experiences of costume professionals regarding sustainability considerations in theatre settings and highlights the importance of user-centered design and collaboration with stakeholders in effecting positive change in the workplace.