SUSTAINABILITY AND TRIZ PRINCIPLES IN SMART TEXTILE PRODUCT DESIGN: A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE CREATIVE PROCESS

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between sustainability and the creative process in textile product design, proposing the systematic use of the inventive principles of the Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) as a decision-support tool for design practice. The study assumes that structured approaches expand creative potential, rationalize the use of resources, and reduce the environmental impacts associated with textile production. Methodologically, a literature review was combined with a case study conducted in a knitting company, alongside multidisciplinary brainstorming involving engineering, production engineering, product design and teaching professionals  and the construction of a correlation matrix between the 40 TRIZ inventive principles and the requirements of technological fabrics (e-textiles). The results show that 10% of the identified correlations present high strategic priority, mainly associated with the principles of segmentation, combination, universality, reuse and parameter change, while 48% and 42% correspond, respectively, to medium and low priority. The complementary construction of a morphological chart revealed innovative combinations among materials, structures and yarn finishes, with potential applications in the sports, medical and functional fashion segments. The study concludes that TRIZ is a consistent methodological resource for guiding sustainable design decisions in the textile sector, reducing reliance on purely intuitive processes and strengthening the link between the textile industry's tradition and responsible innovation..