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Understanding Fashion

From Business to Culture

Benjamin Simmenauer and Adrian Kammarti

Benjamin Simmenauer and Adrian Kammarti

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for: This course is supported by DEFI.

Topics Covered

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Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is designed for: This course is supported by DEFI.

Topics Covered

Fashion and modernity: contemporary relevance, ‘Zeitgeist’, and the desirability of the new.
Fashion and society: the concept of trends, social distinction and selection, culture and subcultures.
Fashion as a language: decoding silhouettes, the genre of fashion literature and fashion press.
Fashion and consumption: fashion and gender, the emergence of ‘lifestyle’, fetishism.

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Reviews summary

Comprehensive fashion: business and culture

According to learners, this course offers a comprehensive overview of the fashion industry, exploring its evolution from business dynamics to cultural impact. Many commend the engaging lectures and knowledgeable instructors for providing a rich historical and cultural context. It is widely considered excellent for beginners and enthusiasts seeking a foundational understanding. However, some professionals noted it is more theoretical than practical, with limited hands-on business insights, making it better suited for those interested in the academic and societal aspects of fashion rather than direct industry application.

Provides valuable additional materials for deeper study.

"The suggested readings were incredibly helpful for expanding on the lecture topics."

"I appreciate the extensive list of resources; it made self-study much easier."

"There's a lot of material to explore beyond the lectures, which I found very enriching."

Excellent starting point for those new to fashion studies.

"As a beginner, I found this course an excellent introduction to the world of fashion."

"It perfectly balanced accessibility with intellectual depth, great for someone new to the topic."

"If you're a fashion enthusiast looking to formalize your knowledge, this is a perfect fit."

Features knowledgeable and captivating instructors.

"The instructors are incredibly passionate and articulate, making complex topics easy to grasp."

"Lectures were always engaging and well-produced; the visuals were a great addition."

"I found the teaching style very approachable, and the content was presented clearly."

Explores fashion's historical and societal dimensions.

"This course provided a deep dive into the history and cultural significance of fashion, truly eye-opening."

"I loved how it connected fashion to broader societal trends and historical events; it wasn't just about clothes."

"It's a fantastic course for understanding how fashion reflects and shapes culture, much more than I expected."

Leans academic, less focused on practical business skills.

"I was hoping for more business-oriented content, but it was mostly academic history and culture."

"While fascinating, it offered very little in terms of practical strategies for a fashion business."

"For those expecting hands-on industry insights, this course is more about the 'culture' than the 'business' aspect."

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Learners who complete Understanding Fashion: From Business to Culture will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.

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Fifty Years of Fashion

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This comprehensive textbook provides a broad overview of fashion trends, covering the historical, social, and cultural factors that influence their development and evolution. It is an excellent resource for students and professionals interested in understanding the fashion industry.

Fifty Years of Fashion

Fifty Years of Fashion

Sustainable Fashion [Elektronisk Resurs]

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Examines the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, and explores alternative models of production and consumption. It valuable resource for students and professionals interested in sustainable fashion.

Sustainable Fashion [Elektronisk Resurs]

Sustainable Fashion [Elektronisk Resurs]

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Provides a step-by-step guide to fashion trend analysis, covering topics such as research methods, trend identification, and trend forecasting. It practical resource for students and professionals in the field.

High Fashion: The 20th Century Decade by Decade

The Psychology of Fashion

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Explores the psychological aspects of fashion, examining how clothes influence our emotions, behavior, and self-perception. It fascinating read for anyone interested in the intersection of fashion and psychology.

The Psychology of Fashion (The Psychology of...

The Psychology of Fashion (The Psychology of...

The Psychology of Fashion (The Psychology of...

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Trabalho, política e cultura em Gramsci

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(Fashion and Culture: A Sociological Analysis) provides a sociological perspective on fashion trends. It explores the relationship between fashion and social class, gender, and identity.

Trabalho, política e cultura em Gramsci

Trabalho, política e cultura em Gramsci

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Cover image

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This lavishly illustrated book provides a comprehensive history of fashion, from ancient times to the present day. It valuable resource for anyone interested in the evolution of fashion styles and trends.

Fashion Book - 31 Copy Tower

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Stunning visual encyclopedia of fashion, featuring over 2,000 images of clothing, accessories, and iconic fashion moments. It must-have for any fashion enthusiast.

Fashion Book - 31 Copy Tower

Fashion Book - 31 Copy Tower

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Big Dress Energy

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Provides a practical guide to trend forecasting for fashion designers and merchandisers. It covers topics such as trend research, forecasting techniques, and trend implementation.

Big Dress Energy

Big Dress Energy: How Fashion Psychology Can...

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Explores the impact of social media on the fashion industry, examining how social media platforms have changed the way fashion is created, marketed, and consumed.

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Time

12 hours

Via

FutureLearn

Institution

Institut Français de la mode (IFM)

Instructors

Benjamin Simmenauer

Adrian Kammarti

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