Dreaming of a career designing fashion… that actually helps the planet?
Want clothing that looks good without costing the earth?
Fashion education is changing how designers learn to make clothes. An emphasis on sustainability is ensuring our love of fashion doesn’t come at the expense of our planet.
Let’s take a closer look…
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Fashion Schools Are Teaching Sustainable Practices
- The Key Sustainable Practices Every Fashion Student Is Learning
- How The Modern Fashion Design School Is Shaping Eco-Friendly Designers
- Necessary Skills Modern Fashion Design Students Need To Learn
Why Fashion Schools Are Teaching Sustainable Practices
Ok, so fast fashion isn’t exactly environmentally friendly.
The fashion industry makes up between 2-8% of global carbon emissions and is the world’s second largest polluter of water.
Consumer demand for sustainable clothing is higher than ever.
As of 2020, 3 out of 5 consumers say sustainability is important when they’re looking to buy clothing. That number is only growing, especially among younger generations.
This spells big changes for the fashion industry.
Brands will have designers who understand sustainable practices already. These brands will have professionals who can jump in and start creating sustainable clothing from day one.
If fashion schools don’t teach about sustainability, where will those designers come from?
It’s that simple.
A quality fashion design school now integrates sustainable practices into every part of the fashion creation process. Clothing material choices, designer construction techniques, and more – are being studied through a sustainable lens.
Future designers are learning how to make clothing before they even set foot in the professional world.
Fashion Education = Sustainable Clothing.
The Key Sustainable Practices Every Fashion Student Is Learning
So what does learning fashion design sustainably even look like? Glad you asked.
Below are just a few practices being taught at fashion institutions around the world.
Zero Waste Patternmaking and Designing Techniques
When you hear “zero waste”, think sustainable Fashion Pandora jewelry.
Designers are learning how to use every scrap of material during the construction process with nothing going to waste.
Some techniques being practiced include:
- Pattern markers made to use the least amount of fabric
- Modular pattern designs that leave little to no scraps after cutting
- Draping techniques that result in no excess fabric
Students learn these styles starting with the first clothing projects they complete in school. By the time they graduate, designing with zero waste in mind is second nature.
Sustainable Fabrics and Materials
Material choice is something every designer needs to know.
Which fabrics use more water? Which dyes contain what chemicals? How can we look beyond traditional textiles?
Fashion students are learning about sustainable fabrics at the source. Schools are teaching about organic materials, fabrics made with recycled content, and low-impact dyes.
Oh, and where those materials come from doesn’t hurt either.
Students study the life cycle of materials. Students are taught where materials are sourced from, how they’re produced, and what can be done with a product at the end of its life.
That last part is something designers need to be aware of moving forward.
Learning about sustainable fabrics doesn’t stop at what materials fashion students use. They also study how fabrics impact the people making our clothes.
Where are garments being produced? What factories use child labor? What companies ensure living wages for workers?
This knowledge allows fashion designers to make better decisions at the drawing board.
Upcycling and Garment Reconstruction
Every designer has that funky jacket grandma gave them. But what if you could redesign that old clothing into something cool?
This is one concept the modern fashion school is teaching their students.
Designers learn how to take old garments and turn them into new, desirable pieces. The use of discontinued stock, vintage finds, or damaged garments are encouraged.
Students learn two things through coursework like this:
- There is value in using already existing materials.
- We can think outside the box when it comes to protecting our environment.
Some fashion schools have gone as far as building partnerships with big brand names to let students upcycle old stock into new collections.
Talk about cool clothes with a story to tell.
How The Modern Fashion Design School Is Shaping Eco-Friendly Designers
Obviously, learning a handful of sustainable practices doesn’t make a fashion program sustainable. So how are design schools changing their course curriculum to adapt?
Here’s what schools across the globe are doing…
Eco Conscious Curriculum
Students shouldn’t have to take a standalone sustainability course to learn about sustainable practices.
Fashion schools are weaving environmentally-friendly practices into every aspect of their programs. Incoming freshmen learn about sustainable fabrics in their first textiles class. Sophomore students consider material sourcing during sketching and design classes.
You get the idea.
Prospective fashion designers are conditioned to think about sustainability regardless of what they’re doing. Whether they’re picking out buttons for a project or sketching a design concept.
Partnerships With Sustainable Brands
If you’re studying fashion, you’ll want real-world experience with brands who practice what they preach.
That’s why more schools are reaching out to clothing brands who care about sustainability.
Students gain access to:
- Real world projects with sustainable materials
- Mentorship from leaders in fashion sustainability
- Internship opportunities with eco-friendly brands
- Cutting edge sustainable tech
Students are able to network with professionals who they can later work for after graduation.
Learning Through Technology
Technology and sustainability go hand-in-hand.
Students have access to software that allows them to visualize their creations digitally before even touching a piece of fabric. Digital prototyping means less samples being made before a garment’s final production.
3D design tech is also becoming more common in classrooms. Fashion designers can create digital prototypes of products before they’re ever made, slashing the amount of resources needed to produce samples.
Necessary Skills Modern Fashion Design Students Need To Learn
Now more than ever your skills need to be razor sharp if you want to break into the fashion industry.
Let’s dive into the skills all future fashion designers will need.
Sustainability Resources
Resources are key when learning about sustainability in fashion.
Designers will need to familiarize themselves with emerging materials like mushrooms leather and clothing made from ocean waste. But they also need to learn where to learn about those materials.
Bookmarking resources like Eco Skills should be your first step. There’s nothing worse than feeling stuck on where to find sustainable materials.
Systems Thinking
The term “systems thinking” is one you’ll hear a lot when it comes to sustainable fashion.
Garments are more than just pretty fabrics we wear on our bodies. Designers need to think of the systems around each garment’s lifecycle.
Where are fabrics sourced? What happens to garments after consumers don’t want them anymore?
With systems thinking, designers will need to look at the entire lifecycle of clothing.
Communication
A big part of selling clothing to consumers is storytelling.
Why should someone buy sustainable products from your brand? What makes your garment better than others?
Future fashion designers need to know how to speak about the sustainable decisions their brands are making.
Consumers care about sustainable initiatives. By being able to communicate a clothing brands’ “why”, designers can connect with modern shoppers and stand out from their competition.
Alright, DIY Fashion designer, now it’s your turn.
Sustainable fashion is here to stay. More and more people are demanding that clothing brands take accountability for their environmental impact. Not to mention, government regulations are getting stricter around the world.
Here’s a recap of what you learned:
- Fashion Designers are learning about sustainability in their programs.
- Techniques like zero-waste patternmaking, sustainable materials, and more are being taught.
- Fashion schools are using industry partnerships to allow students hands-on experience with eco-friendly clothing brands.
- Technology is being used by fashion schools to help reduce waste moving forward.
- Fashion designers need to know material resources, practice systems thinking, and communicate effectively
Those who understand how to make clothing sustainably will lead the fashion industry. Those that don’t… won’t have a career in fashion design for long.
What’s your choice?