Sustainability in Fashion and Textiles

This piece is an introduction to the Sustainable Fashion Ecologies course provided by Parsons School of Design at The New School. The course is intended for everyone interested in the topics of sustainability and fashion.

Whether you are considering a career in fashion, work in the industry, or are simply a wearer of clothing, this course provides insights into how the clothes we wear impact our world.

Fashion as an Ecology

The course is designed to deepen your understanding of the ‘big picture’ of fashion. You will be encouraged to think about fashion differently, as a system or an ecology, that is part of nature and is, therefore, a part of us. Thinking in terms of ecologies helps us to see the important things – the relationships between living organisms and their environments in a system. It helps us to value and be conscious of the people – makers and wearers – the animals, soil, air, water, lands and plants of the wonderfully vast and varied fashion ecology.

The course will help you to understand your relationship with the living elements of the complex fashion system. In Week 1, you’ll begin to deconstruct your relationship with aspects of the fashion ecology. In Week 2, we’ll discuss the complexity of the global fashion ecosystem. In Week 3, you’ll be asked to explain how personal mindsets, actions and relationships intersect with the entire fashion ecosystem.

Fashion and Sustainability

Throughout the course, students are encouraged to actively participate in the discussions and activities. Each step is designed to help deepen your perspective and understanding of how interconnected the clothes we wear are to nature, its wisdom, and sustaining our life on this planet. We’ll help you see how sustainability can become a part of your thinking, actions, and values.

As you participate in discussions, remember that our conversations are about building a community and sharing our individual perspectives. We would ask you to be kind and open to hearing the opinions of your fellow learners, and to share your own thoughts in a constructive and positive tone. By the end of the course, we hope you would be inspired and passionate about embracing your role in creating a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.