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Key Concepts of Sustainable Fashion

Discover what sustainable fashion really means and use this knowledge to reevaluate the future of the fashion industry.

A tree with leaves in the foreground, through the leaves is the sun with sky in the background
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours

What is sustainable fashion?

On this three-week course, you’ll deepen your understanding of what sustainable fashion is and start to assess how the industry can change for the better.

You’ll begin by identifying biases and debunking misconceptions about the industry to help you explore fashion from an inclusive perspective.

You’ll also think about ways to ensure sustainability and human rights as the fashion industry continues to expand.

Explore the future of fashion

To look at the bigger picture of the industry, you’ll examine the different ecosystems within fashion from both a personal and global perspective. This will help you categorise types of fashion ecosystems and understand how your behaviours impact the industry.

With this information, you’ll evaluate the personal actions you can take to influence a sustainable future for fashion ecosystems.

Gain expert insights from the Parsons School of Design

As you begin to reimagine the future of fashion, you’ll explore emergent alternatives in the industry to discover the pioneers in sustainability.

By the end of this course, designed by the specialists at Parsons School of Design, you’ll know your role within fashion, and feel empowered to help the industry have more positive impacts in the future.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Understanding Our Thinking of Sustainable Fashion

    • utility box with the words be the change

      Introduction

      Welcome to Week 1

    • ocean full of trash

      Assumptions and Preconceptions about Sustainable Fashion

      Assumptions and Preconceptions about Sustainable Fashion

    • a person sewing two pieces of black fabric

      Value Mapping

      Value Mapping

    • a child sitting on an adults shoulders holding a balloon

      Exploring Values/Action Gaps

      Exploring Values/Action Gaps

  • Week 2

    Intersections of Fashion Ecosystems

    • the words trust and truth spelled with wooden blocks inside a wooden picture frame

      Welcome to Week 2

      Welcome to Week 2.

    • a sign on a door that says 'buy local or bye bye local'

      Diversity of Ecosystems- Personal, Local, and Global

      Learn about personal, local, and global diversity of fashion ecosystems.

    • A table of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals

      Industry Movements Towards Change

      Learn more about mobilizing the fashion industry for change and how the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals are changing the industry.

    • a poster that says one world

      Activating Change Within Ecosystems

      Discover how to activate change within fashion ecosystems.

    • group of people high fiving

      Wrap Up

      Wrap Up

  • Week 3

    Reimagining Future Sustainable Fashion Ecosystems

    • clothes in a closet

      Welcome to Week 3

      Welcome to Week 3.

    • A closet of clothing with colors ranging from white to dark blue

      Breaking Old Cycles: From Individual to Industry

      Learn about how you can be aware of fashion behaviors you would like to change, and how to create those changes.

    • a sign that reads bad habit

      Targeting New Mindsets and Behaviors

      Discover how to target new mindsets and behaviors.

    • A pile of clothes stacked high in varying colors lays in a warehouse

      Case Studies in Sustainable Fashion

      Let's take a look at what some industry leaders are doing!

    • top of a ladder with sign that says imagine.

      Course Conclusion

      Course Conclusion

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the concepts of sustainable fashion
  • Classify the types of fashion ecosystems
  • Explore actions that will influence sustainability and the future of fashion ecosystems
  • Assess how your values align with your actions

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in the social, environmental, and economic impacts of fashion.

It may be of particular interest if you are considering a career in fashion or sustainability.

Who will you learn with?

Jennifer Whitty

I am a sustainable systems educator, researcher, and designer. I work on developing new mindsets, models, and systems for alternative ecologies of fashion practice for social and environmental justice

Who developed the course?

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Parsons School of Design

For more than a century, Parsons School of Design has been inspired by the transformative potential of design. Today, the school’s groundbreaking academic programs carry forward that mission, making Parsons the number one design school in the U.S. and among the top three globally. At the heart of a comprehensive university — The New School — Parsons draws on a range of academic fields to deliver a uniquely interdisciplinary education enriched by the resources of its home in New York City

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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