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Chanjuan Chen is an assistant professor in the Department of Design at the University of North Texas. Chen joined UNT after teaching as an assistant professor in the School of Fashion at Kent State University. She holds both a BFA and an MFA in Fashion Design. In addition to teaching, she also has industry experience working as a fashion designer, technical designer, and graphic designer in China and the United States.
Sustainability concerns are paramount for the future of the fashion industry and fashion academia, therefore Chen's research has focused on reducing textile waste and increasing garment longevity. These practices are guided by three methodologies to promote sustainable processes: transformability (garments that can be easily changed and customized), modularity (garments formed by small standardized units that can be independently combined in various configurations) and upcycling (garments made from used/discarded materials). Her designs have been recognized by numerous academic and professional organizations; she has received the Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Practices Award for Sustainable Design at both the International Textile and Apparel Association 2016 and 2017 annual conferences. Chen’s goal is to continue sharing innovations and creations with a focus on transformability, modularity, and upcycling to make positive change towards ethical practices in the global fashion industry. |
