Course summary
Become a conscious changemaker in the 21st century fashion industry. Gain the knowledge and skills to design the pioneering, regenerative transformation needed to address the complex and interlinked environmental, social, cultural and economic challenges we face throughout the fashion system. With a focus on planet-centred design, you’ll envision new paradigms for fashion, create scenarios of a sustainable future, question the purpose of design and develop effective systems. You’ll also assess the impact of social innovations within fashion communities, learning how to apply a conscious mindset to deliver positive, responsible practice. Different to a traditional studio maker-based course, this Sustainable Fashion MA is designed to empower you to influence the future of fashion through the development of advanced creative and systems thinking practices, and to design outcomes in a multitude of forms that will affect systemic change. You will: Graduate as a pioneering and entrepreneurial fashion practitioner, ready to question and reframe the challenges of the sector and empowered to lead and reform the industry Utilise creative approaches to find strategic solutions to complex systems challenges across design, production and business functions Develop advanced knowledge of social innovation design, systems thinking and design thinking Build valuable project management skills and networking techniques, creating meaningful and effective connections with other fashion practitioners Hone your investigative and academic research abilities, developing a conscious practice that filters decision-making through a sustainable and ethical lens
Modules
The course is comprised of five modules, four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit project (180 credits in total). The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course. All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. Modules: Re_Imagine (30 credits) Through global case studies from multicultural and inclusive perspectives, alongside independent research, you will develop an in-depth overview of how the fashion product lifecycle sits within the contexts of environmental, social and economic sustainability. You will examine the reasons why change is needed and the approaches the industry is taking to solve these complex challenges. Linked design thinking techniques and horizon scanning will enable you to speculate about how things could be and translate your knowledge to envision alternative fashion systems. You will materialise this future worldview through the production of a creative platform that defines your sustainability agenda and core values and create a proposal for a set of interventions to bring about this change in global and local contexts. Re_Make (30 credits) Utilising design thinking processes you will analyse and evaluate sustainable product design solutions through investigation into responsible materials, circular technologies, and ethically transparent processes. You will then propose innovative ideas and directions for the design of visionary fashion product opportunities with a positive impact on the environment, producing a report detailing your approach to the design of a sustainable product range that attempts to meet a 100% traceability target. Re_Wire (30 credits) Through case studies and personal investigation into fashion’s sourcing, production and distribution systems, you will question the practices of fashion’s supply chain. Networking with each other and across the industry, open-source sharing and group work will be central to building teamworking and leadership skills. You will scrutinise why systems need to be radically transformed to design out the exploitative practices in fashion and identify where you can rewire the system to deliver a responsible impact for the planet and its people. Re_Frame (30 credits) By exploring circular business models and purpose-driven communication strategies behind economic and social sustainability, you will develop a working understanding of what responsible brand narratives, platforms, services and organisations can look like. Through taught content and independent study, you will examine positive and negative communication methods used to discuss sustainable fashion, and explore the impact these narratives have on conscious consumerism and decision-making. Studying human behaviour will also enhance your understanding of why we consume the way we do and give you the design thinking skills to develop interventions to address this consumption. Based on social innovation design practices, ethnographic research and applied design thinking, you will develop a presentation about a new service, communication platform or organisational model that responsibly impacts the fashion community and seeks to improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities on a global or local scale. Re_Form (60 credits) Consolidating all the knowledge, research methods and design skills you have learned in the previous modules, you will identify and address a sustainable challenge through the development of positive and responsible intervention, platform or system. Using a combination of theory, practice-led or practice-based research you will immerse yourself in your chosen theme and create an innovative iterative design strategy to inform the strategic development of your outcome within your own company, in a brand, in the community or another space.
Assessment method
Assessment on sustainable fashion this course has been carefully planned to work specifically for online delivery. Assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress knowledge and skills in key areas that relate to the course Learning Outcomes. The course team will identify your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and discuss them with you throughout your time on the course. As you move through the modules, you will keep an assessed critical reflective journal, for weekly reflections on learning, helping you to embed critical self-evaluation into your ideas and personal development. You will be assessed via coursework at the end of each module in the form of visual, verbal and written assignments. You will also receive regular feedback via webinars, Q&As and workshops with other students on your course.
Entry requirements
An honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply. If you'd like to discuss our entry requirements, speak to an advisor.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
Falmouth University
Woodlane
Falmouth
TR11 4RH