Hi there! I am a researcher and designer currently based in Berlin. My work focuses on the links between sustainable fashion, agriculture, and place. 

Master's Thesis

Out of some of the most basic necessities of humanity; the need for food and clothing, arise two of the world’s largest industries; agriculture and fashion. These global behemoth industries are paramount to our daily lives and yet simultaneously responsible for so many of the social and environmental problems threatening the very survival of our species and planet. Where these two industries intersect is through cotton, a crop crucial to the livelihoods of farmers around the world, and a cornerstone material in the fashion industry.

By looking at the problems that exist within the cotton industry we are often simultaneously looking at problems within the worlds of fashion and agriculture. And therefore, to look for solutions regarding the key issues of cotton farming, we are creating possible action steps that can be taken for both the fashion and agriculture industries to behave in more sustainable ways. 

Through my thesis work I will focus on developing a decision-making tool, The Sustainable Cotton Atlas, that will aid fashion brands looking to shift their raw material sourcing towards more sustainable practices, and through doing so, empowering a brand to use their purchasing power to affect positive change in the countries and farming communities they source from.

Key questions:

How does one define sustainable cotton farming? What actions are being taken by specific countries and communities around the world to increase the usage and cultivation of sustainable cotton? What can a brand do to increase the cultivation of more sustainably grown cotton to better the lives of farmers and their communities as well as the environment?

Cotton Diaries

Cotton Diaries is content and video platform reviving the human connection between the people who grow, make and use cotton. Cotton Diaries reconnects us with the stories behind the cotton industry and the inspirational people who are dedicated to improving it. Through a unique digital experience, it challenges us to reconsider our relationship with the products we buy and the crucial role we play in the value chain. A captivating journey that engages consumers directly and inspires them to raise their voice and actively drive positive change.

Since Winter 2018 I have helped Marzia LaFranchi in research capacities for as she creates Cotton Diaries. 

Design Work

Pintl & Keyt, Chicago 2015-2017

Selected Surface Design, 2009-2015

For general inquiries, please feel free to contact me at

katiechappuis@gmail.com