Fashion and society are deeply intertwined through everyday actions, behaviours and business models, and can be empowering. However, social injustice in and through fashion is experienced widely and can perpetuate inequality and exploitation.
Fashion Values: Society is the latest four-week course developed by Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF). It follows the launch of Fashion Values: Nature and Fashion Values: Economy in 2021.
On this four-week course learners explore how fashion can paradoxically be a force for societal good, creating agency, collaboration, dignity and distinction between people, as well as a cause and perpetuator of injustice. By the end of the course learners will understand how activism can be used to challenge injustice and be inspired by intersectional perspectives from activists around the world, learning from historical and contemporary case studies and resources. The course explores where power lies to create change and to challenge social injustice in fashion, examining many approaches to and models of activism, as well as the importance of resilience.
Design thinking is used to develop fashion activities and behaviours that contribute to social justice. Learners are supported through the design thinking process to define a specific problem and generate ideas in response to the question: ‘How will we use fashion activism to challenge social injustice?’
This course will empower learners with the tools to address challenges facing fashion today. This includes students, sustainability professionals, fashion and business professionals, educators, designers, strategists, and communicators.
What topics are covered?
Fashion and Society
Social Justice, Power and Change
Activism and Fashion
How will we use fashion activism to challenge social injustice?
By the end of the course, you will be able to...
Examine social injustice in fashion from intersectional perspectives
Explore ideas of power and change
Be inspired by historical and contemporary fashion activism that challenges social injustice in fashion
Use design thinking to develop, prototype, evaluate and communicate fashion activism that can challenge social injustice
The course has been conceived and developed by CSF’s education team – Prof. Dilys Williams, Nina Stevenson, Liz Parker, Lou Budd, Kae Katz and Mina Jugovic. Contributing experts include Aja Barber, Dr Otto von Busch, The Rational Dress Society, Tanveer Ahmed and Kalpona Akter.
The course is based on the research, teaching and practice of the community of academics, educators and practitioners at the world-leading research centre. With over 85,000 learners on CSF’s FutureLearn courses to date, learners gain valuable insights from fellow fashion and sustainability changemakers worldwide.
Fashion Values: Society is now open for enrolment, register now on FutureLearn.