Sustainable Fashion

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/sustainable-fashion

Introduction

**Course Review: Sustainable Fashion on Coursera** In an era of rising environmental consciousness, the course "Sustainable Fashion" on Coursera emerges as an essential resource for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of sustainability within the fashion industry. Often met with skepticism, the idea of sustainable fashion paves the way for dynamic conversations about our roles as consumers and the industry’s impact on the planet. This course provides a comprehensive overview that not only educates but also inspires future fashion leaders to reconsider traditional practices and take part in fostering a more sustainable approach. ### Overview This course dives deep into the multifaceted relationship between fashion, sustainability, and business models. The presenters, Ana and Kirsti, expertly guide learners throughout the course, making complex topics accessible and engaging. From the very first module, it becomes clear that the fashion industry is at a critical juncture, where the urgent need for sustainable practices has surfaced as a response to increased consumer awareness about environmental and social issues. ### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Introduction: The Universal Language of Fashion** The opening module sets the stage for the discussion on sustainable fashion by highlighting its ubiquitous nature in our lives. Everyone wears clothes, which presents a unique pathway for widespread awareness and change in sustainability practices. The course features insights from industry representatives discussing challenges and opportunities, thereby grounding theoretical concepts in real-world applications. 2. **Three Key Concepts** Here, students will gain a foundational understanding of the three essential components: the fashion industry, sustainability, and business models. These concepts will empower students to unpack the trajectory of sustainable fashion and its significance in modern consumer culture. 3. **Sustainable Business Models in Fashion** This module introduces various brands implementing sustainable business practices. Students will explore the differences between sustainable and traditional business models, featuring insights from Elena Salcedo, an expert in the field. The module aims to inspire creativity in developing innovative approaches to sustainability. 4. **Circular Economy in Fashion** Understanding the principles of circular economy is vital, and this module provides clarity on its implications in the fashion sector. With case studies and expert interviews, students will understand the nuances of circular fashion and witness successful brands like MUD Jeans, which emphasizes leasing and recycling as sustainable practices. 5. **Organisational Approaches to Sustainable Fashion** Drawing from real-world examples, this module illustrates the diverse strategies that both startups and established brands are employing to sustain their businesses while being eco-conscious. This section poses critical questions regarding the feasibility of total sustainability and the metrics available to evaluate it. 6. **Partners and Tensions** Collaboration is key in advancing sustainability in fashion. This module delves into the types of partnerships that can form around sustainability efforts and the challenges they face, teaching students the value of coalition-building and negotiation in achieving sustainability goals. 7. **Course Assessment** The final assignment challenges students to apply their knowledge in a practical case study. This hands-on experience allows participants to critically assess a fashion brand's commitment to sustainability and identify potential improvements. ### Recommendation I highly recommend the "Sustainable Fashion" course on Coursera to anyone interested in understanding the ongoing transformation within the fashion industry. Whether you're an aspiring fashion designer, a business student, or simply someone passionate about sustainable practices, this course offers invaluable insights and actionable knowledge. Its mixture of theoretical frameworks, real-world examples, and expert opinions creates a rich learning environment. Enrolling in this course not only prepares you to contribute positively to the conversation around sustainable fashion but also equips you with tools to affect change within your own practices. The fashion industry has the potential to redefine its legacy—why not be a part of that transformation?

Syllabus

Introduction

We often meet people who love fashion! We also meet people who say they couldn't care less about fashion. Or people who find one pair of pants that they really like and then buy 10 pairs to make sure they have pants to wear for a few years. The fascinating thing about fashion is that everybody uses clothes every day. No matter where you live or how much money you have. It is something we all share. Therefore clothing is also an incredibly interesting starting point for a discussion about sustainability. It is something we can all relate to in one way or another. And as clothing is something we all wear, imagine the impact it could have if the fashion industry was to become more sustainable. In the last several years consumers have become increasingly aware of the unsustainable social and environmental practices of the fashion industry. To respond to this increase in critical consumers and survive as a business - also in the long term - fashion companies need to find more sustainable ways of doing business. In this module, you will meet representatives from the industry who will briefly introduce you to some of the fundamental challenges and opportunities for practicing sustainability. Moreover, you will meet us, Ana and Kirsti, who have the extreme pleasure of guiding you throughout this course.

In this module, you will be introduced to 3 key concepts: The fashion industry, sustainability and business models. With these 3 concepts, you will be able to decode the past, present and future of sustainable fashion.

This module introduces you to a few inspirational brands and companies that work hard to create more sustainable business models. It will also provide a broad theoretical framework for sustainable business models and the differences between these models and traditional business models. At the end of it, you will hear the opinion of Elena Salcedo, a sustainable business model expert working for one of the biggest fashion brands in the world.

In this module, you will be introduced to the basic concepts that define the circular economy in general, and circular fashion in particular. You will be presented with the challenges that the fashion industry faces when trying to go circular. Following this introduction you will hear from our colleague Dr Kerli Kant Hvass, an expert on circular fashion. Finally Kirsti will introduce you to some pretty fascinating examples of circular companies in the fashion industry and you will meet MUD Jeans who is making a business of leasing and recycling jeans. We hope you will have fun!

In this module, we will learn about specific examples of startups and big brands dealing with sustainability. You will discover the different approaches, tools and realities of fashion brands trying to become more sustainable. What kind of sustainable business models are out there? Is it possible to be 100% sustainable? How can you measure your "sustainability"? Keep watching and you will see how brands do it!

In this module we turn to partnerships for sustainability and the type of tensions that may arise when working together. You will learn about different types of partnership and some

In this final assignment, you must take the skills you have learned to use in a case study of a fashion brand, manufacturer or other organization engaged in the textile and fashion industry.