Sustainable Fashion from Coursera

Sometimes when we say we work with sustainable fashion people look at us like... "Mmmm, is it really possible for something like fashion to be sustainable?" And let's face it, people are right being suspicious. If anything the fashion industry has become increasingly unsustainable over the last decades, using more and more natural resources and creating more and more waste.

In this course, we provide an overview of business model theory and discuss business models as essential tools in the transformation towards more sustainable businesses. Throughout the course, we will use business model theory as a foundation to look at how real-world fashion brands are adopting more sustainable ways of doing business. We will provide you with a rich opportunity to examine their efforts and consider strategies for your own organisation. Hopefully, you can also enlighten us with some local examples in your own countries for us to discover together new ways of dealing with sustainability.

By the end of the course, you have an understanding of the overall challenges and potential solutions for businesses to become more sustainable. You will learn about the challenges and opportunities of implementing circular business models and we will introduce various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. You will be able to think about business model theory in new ways and apply strategies to manage business model innovation towards sustainable practices.

This is a very exciting time to be working in the fashion industry, so let's get started!

What's inside

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.

Three Key Concepts

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.

Sustainable Business Models in 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.

Circular Economy in Fashion

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!

Organisational Approaches to Sustainable Fashion

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!

Partners and Tensions

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

Course assessment

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.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines the concept of sustainability within the context of the fashion industry

Provides a thorough overview of business model theory and its application in sustainable fashion

Features insights from industry experts and practitioners

Covers a wide range of topics, including circular economy, organizational approaches, and partnerships for sustainability

Taught by experienced instructors with expertise in sustainable fashion

Reviews summary

Sustainable fashion: a deeper look

Learners say the Sustainable Fashion course is largely positive with 5-star reviews representing nearly 90% of feedback. The course is described as informative, engaging, well-paced, and featuring real-life examples. Students particularly praise the guest speakers, case studies, and quizzes. The course is seen as a great starting point for those interested in a career in sustainable fashion or who want to learn more about the industry's environmental impact.

Reviewers say the course covers various aspects of sustainable fashion, including business models, sustainability practices, and the challenges facing the industry. The course also explores the role of consumers in promoting sustainability and provides practical tips for making more sustainable choices.

Good for beginners in the sustainable fashion industry.

"The course is seen as a great starting point for those interested in a career in sustainable fashion or who want to learn more about the industry's environmental impact."

Course covers various aspects of sustainable fashion, including business models, sustainability practices, challenges facing the industry, and the role of consumers.

"Reviewers say the course covers various aspects of sustainable fashion, including business models, sustainability practices, and the challenges facing the industry."

"The course also explores the role of consumers in promoting sustainability and provides practical tips for making more sustainable choices."

Very positive, lots of people say the course is well-designed, informative and engaging.

"Learners say the Sustainable Fashion course is largely positive with 5-star reviews representing nearly 90% of feedback."

"The course is described as informative, engaging, well-paced, and featuring real-life examples."

"Students particularly praise the guest speakers, case studies, and quizzes."

"The course is seen as a great starting point for those interested in a career in sustainable fashion or who want to learn more about the industry's environmental impact."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Sustainable Fashion with these activities:

Tutorial: Circular economy basics

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Prepare yourself by watching a tutorial about the basic principles of circular economy.

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Find an online tutorial or video about circular economy.
Watch and take notes on the key concepts of circular economy.

Practice: Applying business model theory

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Strengthen your understanding of business model theory with practice exercises

Browse courses on Business Models

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Find online exercises or quizzes on business model theory.
Complete the exercises and check your answers.

Attend: Workshop on Sustainable Fashion Practices

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Deepen your knowledge and connect with experts by attending a workshop on sustainable fashion practices.

Browse courses on Sustainability in Fashion

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Research and identify a relevant workshop.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in discussions.

Three other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all six activities

Create: Summary of sustainability report

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Enhance your understanding of sustainability reporting by summarizing a report.

Browse courses on Sustainability Reporting

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Choose a sustainability report from a fashion brand.
Read and analyze the report, identifying key metrics and initiatives.
Create a summary that captures the essence of the report.

Review Book: Cradle to Cradle

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Gain insights on sustainable design and circular economy by reading Cradle to Cradle.

View Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly, taking notes on key ideas.
Reflect on how the concepts apply to the fashion industry.

Participate: Sustainable Fashion Design Contest

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Challenge yourself and gain recognition by participating in a sustainable fashion design contest.

Browse courses on Fashion Design

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Research sustainable fashion design principles and techniques.
Develop and submit a design that meets the contest criteria.

Career center

Learners who complete Sustainable Fashion will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Environmental Manager

Environmental Managers are responsible for developing and implementing environmental policies and programs. They work with other departments to ensure that the company is operating in a sustainable and ethical manner, and they report on the company's environmental progress to stakeholders. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Environmental Managers who want to learn more about sustainable business models and how to measure and report on sustainability.

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CSR Manager

CSR Managers are responsible for developing and implementing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. They work with other departments to ensure that the company is operating in a sustainable and ethical manner, and they report on the company's CSR progress to stakeholders. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for CSR Managers who want to learn more about sustainable business models and how to measure and report on sustainability.

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Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability Consultants help companies improve their environmental, social, and economic performance. They advise businesses on how to develop and implement sustainable policies and practices, and they help measure the impact of sustainability initiatives. This course provides an overview of business model theory and discusses business models as essential tools in the transformation towards more sustainable businesses. It also provides examples of real-world fashion brands that are adopting more sustainable ways of doing business. This course may be useful for Sustainability Consultants who want to learn more about sustainable business models in the fashion industry.

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Sustainability Strategist

Sustainability Strategists develop and implement sustainability strategies for businesses. They work with other departments to ensure that the business is operating in a sustainable and ethical manner, and they report on the company's sustainability progress to stakeholders. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Sustainability Strategists who want to learn more about sustainable business models and how to measure and report on sustainability.

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Sustainability Analyst

Sustainability Analysts collect and analyze data to assess the environmental and social impact of a company's operations. They work with other departments to develop and implement sustainability strategies, and they report on the company's sustainability progress to stakeholders. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Sustainability Analysts who want to learn more about sustainable business models and how to measure and report on sustainability.

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Fashion Designer

Fashion Designers create clothing and accessories. They work with other departments to ensure that the clothing is produced in a sustainable way, and they are responsible for testing and evaluating the clothing to ensure that it meets quality standards. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Fashion Designers who want to learn more about sustainable fashion design.

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Supply Chain Manager

Supply Chain Managers are responsible for managing the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers. They work with other departments to ensure that the supply chain is efficient and sustainable. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Supply Chain Managers who want to learn more about sustainable supply chain management.

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Product Developer

Product Developers are responsible for designing and developing new products. They work with other departments to ensure that the products are manufactured in a sustainable way, and they are responsible for testing and evaluating the products to ensure that they meet quality standards. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Product Developers who want to learn more about sustainable product design and development.

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Research and Development Manager

Research and Development Managers are responsible for developing new products and processes. They work with other departments to ensure that the new products and processes are sustainable and efficient. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Research and Development Managers who want to learn more about sustainable product and process development.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers are responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns. They work with other departments to ensure that the marketing campaigns are aligned with the company's sustainability goals. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Marketing Managers who want to learn more about sustainable marketing.

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Fashion Stylist

Fashion Stylists create outfits for clients. They work with other departments to ensure that the outfits are sustainable and stylish. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Fashion Stylists who want to learn more about sustainable fashion.

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Operations Manager

Operations Managers are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of a business. They work with other departments to ensure that the business is operating in a sustainable and efficient manner. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Operations Managers who want to learn more about sustainable operations management.

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Social Entrepreneur

Social Entrepreneurs start businesses that address social and environmental issues. They work with other departments to ensure that the businesses are profitable and sustainable. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Social Entrepreneurs who want to learn more about sustainable business practices.

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Educator

Educators teach students about a variety of subjects. They work with other departments to ensure that the curriculum is relevant and engaging. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Educators who want to learn more about sustainable business practices.

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Nonprofit Program Manager

Nonprofit Program Managers plan and implement programs that address social and environmental issues. They work with other departments to ensure that the programs are effective and efficient. This course provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities for businesses to become more sustainable. It also introduces various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. This course may be useful for Nonprofit Program Managers who want to learn more about sustainable business practices.

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