Johnston, DavidPare, JeremyAddis, Will2025-05-012025-05-012025-05-01https://hdl.handle.net/10161/32360Natural disasters and industrial catastrophes present wicked problems characterized by complexity, unpredictability, and systemic inefficiencies. This paper examines how ethical fashion initiatives can address these challenges in disaster recovery, drawing on a literature review of five case studies: Post-Hurricane Katrina Artisan Cooperatives, Japan Tsunami Textile Recovery, Rana Plaza Collapse Response, Post-Hurricane Maria Textile Initiatives, and Australian Bushfire Textile Upcycling. These are compared to Threaded Impact Co., a 2025 startup producing "Hurricanes Blow" socks in Charlotte, North Carolina, to support Hurricane Helene recovery via donations to Rebuilding Together Greater Florida. Findings suggest that while historical cases demonstrate fashion’s potential for economic empowerment and social resilience, Threaded Impact Co. offers a structured, scalable model addressing wicked problems like funding shortages and fragmented aid systems, advancing the intersection of ethical fashion and environmental science.enhttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/Ethical FashionDisaster RecoveryWicked ProblemsStitching Resilience FrameworkCommunity EmpowermentSustainabilityScalabilityMaster's project