Knowledge Exchange
We engage in participatory practice with businesses, NGOs, government agencies and other organisations. Our projects create culture and practice change through workshops, mentoring, design practice, insight reports and contract research.
We aim to
transform the fashion sector through co-learning to create sustainability in action.
Knowledge exchange is one of the three foundational pillars of Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF). Its collaborative, creative endeavour translates knowledge and research into action in societal, economic, cultural and environmental terms.
Our partnerships include world leading luxury maisons, technology companies, and media organisations; high profile designers, product and buying teams in vibrant companies; UK and other government departments, local councils; and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities. This offers the opportunity to realise change inside organisations and in the public realm. At the heart of Knowledge Exchange is the creation of trusted and long-term relationships of mutual learning. Our present and past partners include ASOS, Condé Nast, H&M, Hush, IBM, Kering, Nike, Selfridges, Tommy Hilfiger, Li & Fung, and Marks and Spencer.
Our projects focus on the creation of sustainability led knowledge and related strategies, products, services, and systems. This is achieved through bespoke projects relating to partner challenge-opportunities, insight reports, mentoring programmes, contract research, and exhibitions.
This is a mutually beneficial process; industry and other partners gain research and next-generation insights, while we create a bridge for next generation fashion professionals between student learning and professional practice.
Our work covers four key areas:
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Design for Sustainability – Embedding sustainability into design, product, and business model development by exploring new approaches to create prosperity in and through fashion.
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Knowledge Building – Amplifying sustainability education outside of a university context gives industry learners a deeper understanding of core topics and relates them to their own practice.
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Strategy and Innovation – Co-developing new strategies, at a product, service, and systemic level. We define new business practices and transformational ideas that foster prosperity, across environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions.
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Sustainability Literacy – Creating and sharing language, terminology, and thought leadership to de-mystify sustainability terms and concepts, developing frameworks, and common understanding.
Case Studies
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CSF’s knowledge exchange projects create research and impact through interdisciplinary collaboration between industry and academia.
