Integrating Wabi-Sabi and Mottainai into Sustainable Screen Printing: A Practice-Led Study

Abstract

The textile and apparel industry faces significant sustainability challenges due to resource-intensive production processes and material waste generation, particularly in screen-printing operations. While existing solutions largely focus on technological optimization, the potential of cultural-aesthetic frameworks as drivers of sustainable industrial practice remains underexplored. This study investigates the integration of the Japanese aesthetic philosophies of Wabi-sabi (embracing imperfection) and Mottainai (respect for materials and waste minimization) into contemporary screen-printing processes. Adopting a qualitative, practice-led research design, the study combines field observations within an industrial textile printing facility, semi-structured interviews with 15 practitioners, and a series of controlled studio-based experiments. The findings identify five key intervention points within the production workflow, including technique manipulation, ink reuse, repurposing of defective outputs, and screen reuse. Empirical observations indicate that a substantial proportion of production waste, particularly unused inks and rejected samples, can be reintegrated into the design process, with experimental applications demonstrating the potential to reduce material discard levels by an estimated 20–35% at the sampling and post-production stages. The study further demonstrates that controlled irregularity and material reuse can generate distinctive, value-added textile outcomes while improving resource efficiency. By reframing defects and waste as aesthetic and material assets, the research proposes a shift from linear production toward a more circular, design-driven model. The findings contribute a novel framework that operationalizes Wabi-sabi and Mottainai within industrial textile contexts, offering practical implications for sustainable innovation. The study also highlights key challenges related to scalability, quality control, and market acceptance, providing directions for future research and pilot-level industrial implementation.