• ACT Asia Logo

Compassion in Fashion: Sustainability and the Global Fur Trade

Learn how fashion designers and businesses can make more compassionate choices to build fur-free, sustainable fashion brands.

1,347 enrolled on this course

Three images of foxs and a green dress

Compassion in Fashion: Sustainability and the Global Fur Trade

1,347 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 3 hours per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Explore why sustainability in fashion begins with fur-free

As the fashion industry’s future leaders and decision-makers, students in the fashion industry today have the potential to steer the industry to a fur-free and sustainable future.

On this course, you’ll examine fashion sustainability through the lens of the fur industry.

As you learn about how the fur production process impacts animals, humans, and the environment, you’ll have the chance to reflect on what you want your future in fashion to look like.

Uncover the environmental impact of the fashion industry

You’ll start the course by developing your knowledge of how the fashion industry impacts air, water, land, and waste pollution.

Using fur farming as a focus topic, you’ll develop your understanding of the fur production process, learning how the fur trade impacts everyone from the farmers themselves to animal welfare.

Discover the impact of the fur trade on humans and animals too

Not only will you learn about the sustainability issues relating to fur, you’ll also discover design philosophies and business strategies for building fashion businesses that are more compassionate to animals and kinder to humans.

You’ll examine the business manifestos of a variety of fashion designers, brands, and businesses and have the chance to use these to create a fashion business manifesto and career plan of your own.

Gain a fur-free perspective on fashion with ACTAsia and John Lau, Dean of Academic Strategy at London College of Fashion.

ACTAsia has worked on the fur issue in China and globally for over a decade. John Lau, Dean of Academic Strategy at London College of Fashion has developed the curriculum for this course, and supports ACTAsia as an advisor.

You’ll learn how to identify and change the practices within the industry that damage and exploit the environment, people, and animals.

What topics will you cover?

  1. Fur-free fashion
  2. Sustainability in the fashion industry
  3. Environmental impact of the fur industry and fashion
  4. Human welfare and the impact of the fashion industry
  5. Animal welfare and the impact of the fur industry
  6. Critical thinking, values building, business and communications
  7. Professional career development & support (manifesto & option streams)

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

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...

  • Demonstrate research to identify and critique the need to protect natural resources and raw materials.
  • Investigate the dangers and toxicity to humans and the environment of the fur process including to preserve and dye.
  • Evaluate the impact of fur farming and farmers’ wellbeing.
  • Describe the global scale of the fur business and production.
  • Assess and create a manifesto for a fashion brand.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone who cares about sustainable fashion and fur-free fashion.

It will be particularly applicable to the study of higher education fashion students studying in either the design, communications or business fields.

The course will also be relevant to those working in the fashion industry, especially at a brand where fur design and use remains.

The course will be offered in English with Chinese transcripts and some of your fellow Learners may leave comments in Chinese as well as English.

What software or tools do you need?

You will need a computer and reliable internet connection.

Who will you learn with?

Dean of Academic Strategy at London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.

Director of Programmes at ACTAsia who shares the vision for a fur free future, where animals, people and the environment are considered. Co-author of ACTAsia's Compassion in Fashion course.

Who developed the course?

ACTAsia

ACTAsia initiates education programmes aimed at children, consumers, and professionals for gradual and sustainable social change. We believe that respect for people, animals and the environment will lead to a more compassionate and sustainable world. 

Endorsers and supporters

recognised by

Conscious Fashion Logo

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$134/one-off payment

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 25 Apr 2024

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Tests to check your learningticktickcross
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$134/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 25 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

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

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...