Online course

Innovation: the Fashion Industry

Understand how big fashion retailers innovate and discover the story behind a favourite piece of your clothing.

Duration 2 weeks
2 hours per week
Learn for free
Upgrade for $64 What's this?

Why join the course?

This course introduces a case study showing how Marks & Spencer has been a key innovator in fashion, introducing new fabrics that make our lives easier and more comfortable.

You will see how M&S continues to drive innovation to bring consumers new and better products. You will also consider your own clothing and its innovation story, research how a favourite item of clothing is the result of innovative developments in the industry and share your findings with other learners.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 11 secondsInnovation is what moves us forward, from the wheel to the internet and everything in between. This course focuses on innovation in the fashion industry. Through old archive footage of Marks and Spencer clothing adverts in the 1950s, videos from Marks and Spencer garment and innovation specialists, as well as activities and quizzes, this course will look at the ways in which the fashion industry develops new and innovative ideas to make better clothing. Along the way, you'll have plenty of opportunity to interact with learners from around the world, giving you new perspectives on the topic. Sign up now to Innovation-- The Fashion Industry.

What topics will you cover?

An overview of innovation: defining different types and levels
Case study: incremental innovation at M&S
Innovation in fashion advertising
Fashion innovation outside the retail industry
How to create an educational video

When would you like to start?

Available now
7 May 2018
4 June 2018
2 July 2018
Date to be announced

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Explore the different types of innovation and discuss examples of each.
Identify the three levels of innovation: incremental, radical, and disruptive.
Discuss the different types and levels of innovation in the fashion industry.
Evaluate the way in which clothes were marketed in the 1950s compared to today.
Explore future directions in fabric and garment innovation and discuss technologies which have impacted on innovation in the fashion industry.
Research and report on the history and development of an item of clothing.
Record the history and development of your chosen clothing item.
Share and discuss your research with fellow learners.

Who is the course for?

This course is part of the Going to University collection which has been specifically designed for schools and colleges. The course can be used as a teachers’ classroom enrichment resource or can be studied independently by students.

Who will you learn with?

Hi, I'm a Senior Teaching Fellow at the Univesity of Leeds. My areas of interest are based around the subject of design. Key areas are innovation, creativity and employability.

Who developed the course?

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.