{"id":28010,"date":"2018-11-29T14:36:17","date_gmt":"2018-11-29T19:36:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=28010"},"modified":"2022-03-16T10:00:41","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T14:00:41","slug":"top-10-sustainable-fashion-schools-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/top-10-sustainable-fashion-schools-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 11 Sustainable Fashion Schools in the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

*Updated October 17, 2021<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the current generation witnesses the dire consequences of global warming, we are talking about sustainability, literally, everywhere — in your town governor\u2019s campaign promises, your campus recycling program, and recently, your favorite clothing brand\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting from the mid-2000s, with advanced technology and increased purchasing power, customers have constantly fed on fast fashion, an industry practice that copies trends from the runway or celebrities that appeal to the masses, mass-produces them with unsustainable resources and cheap manpower, sells them out, and replaces them instantly as trend changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, fast fashion comes with a heavy price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast fashion\u2019s unsustainable methods have destroyed the environment, exploited low wage workers, mainly in developing countries, and created wasteful consumer behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, both industry leaders and customers are responding, and sustainable fashion is on the rise<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the new increase in demand for sustainable fashion, both high fashion and street brands are valuing designers and market strategists with more expertise in sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For students interested in going into fashion, consider these 11 fashion schools — not ranked in any meaningful way — offering degrees, certificates or courses on sustainable fashion, and get ahead in your career game.<\/p>\n\n\n

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1. Parsons The New School for Design (New York, NY)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As one of the world\u2019s top fashion schools, Parsons<\/a> has long been heavily invested in sustainability through its education and campus life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is its course on Sustainable Systems mandatory for all incoming freshmen, the campus buildings are environmentally friendly. For example, Parsons\u2019 buildings conserve energy and water and manage waste. Plus, the facility staff are trained in energy efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2015, when Burak Cakmak, who previously worked as vice president of corporate sustainability in Swarovski, became the dean of fashion, sustainability has really become the school\u2019s core value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Programs<\/b>: Option to specialize in sustainability is open to all majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses<\/b>: Sustainable Systems; Zero Waste Design; Sustainable Fashion; Ethical Fashion; EcoFashion: Sustainable Solutions; Sustainable Business Models<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online courses<\/b>: Medium of Fashion: Textiles; Fashion Entrepreneurship; Design and Innovative Sustainable Business<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty<\/b>: Timo Rissanen, zero-waste menswear designer and author; Bernard Kahn, fashion industry consultant for large companies for over 25 years; Dr. Hazel Clark, author of countless seminal publications; and Francesca Granata, co-curator of \u201cEthics + Aesthetics,\u201d the first American exhibition exploring the interconnection between fashion and sustainability<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special projects<\/b>: Partnership<\/a> with Loomstate to create jeans that are as close to zero waste as possible but still look good<\/p>\n\n\n

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2. Fashion Institute of Technology (New York, NY)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

FIT<\/a> was one of the nation\u2019s first higher education institutions to openly work with the government to reduce carbon emission. In 2011, FIT was the first institution to reduce carbon emission by 30 percent. As of 2016, FIT has reduced it by 46 percent and is looking to reach 50 percent by 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At two of their campus buildings, the roofs are covered with 1\u00bc acres of sedum plants that help insulate the buildings, absorb carbon dioxide, and soak up water during heavy rainfall and prevent the city\u2019s sewers from flooding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While at FIT, students are constantly exposed to sustainability both inside and outside of their studios and lecture halls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program<\/b>: Minor in Ethics and Sustainability<\/a>, an interdisciplinary study that equips students to apply sustainability in all areas, materials, economics, aesthetics, theories and social responsibility; non-credit certificate in Sustainable Design Entrepreneur<\/a>, a series of four-week classes that equip participants to learn about and practice sustainable business ideas<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses<\/b>: International Corporate Responsibility; Corporate Social Responsibility; Sustainability in Fashion Merchandising; Sustainable Packaging<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online courses<\/b>: Introduction to Sustainability; Circular Product Lifecycle<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty<\/b>: Neil Chambers, CEO of Chambers Design; Jeffrey Silberman, sustainable cotton expert; Nathan Fleisig, Social Responsibility & Compliance Manager at Outerstuff, responsible for global compliance at Adidas\/Reebok; Nicole Schorr, founder of Zero to Sixty Communications; Lisa Hendrickson, an idea generator and a solution provider to Fortune 500 companies<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special projects<\/b>: Annual Sustainable Business and Design Conference<\/a>; Sustainability Awareness Week<\/a> with talks and exhibitions on sustainable fashion<\/p>\n\n\n

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3. California College of the Arts (San Francisco, CA) <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

California College of the Arts<\/a> has the longest-running sustainable fashion design program in the country. Sustainability is included in the curricula in all levels of degrees, from bachelor\u2019s to master\u2019s degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program<\/b>: B.A. in Fashion Design<\/a> and M.B.A. in Design Strategy<\/a> are about fashion and design in general, but sustainability is deeply embedded into the curricula. In particular, M.B.A. in Design Strategy focuses on teaching students to create design strategies for \u201ctotal value creation,\u201d which according to the university\u2019s website, means \u201csomething much more than mere profitability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses<\/b>: Leadership by Design; Market Insight Studio; Fashion Design: Sustainability; Eco: Sustainability Seminar; Sustainability Studio; Innovation Studio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty<\/b>: Lynda Grose, co-founder of Esprit\u2019s collection, the first ecologically responsible clothing line; Bob Adams, designer\/farmer and IDEO fellow; Amanda Cattermole, longtime director at Levi Strauss & CO<\/p>\n\n\n

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4. Pratt Institute (New York, NY)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As one of the city\u2019s leading fashion schools, the Pratt Institute<\/a> integrates sustainability across multiple studies. At Pratt, the Center for Sustainable Design Strategies serves as a research and resource center for any faculty or students interested in sustainable design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program<\/b>: Minor in Sustainability Studies<\/a>, an interdisciplinary study that looks at sustainability with environmental, economic and social lens; Certificate in Design Entrepreneurship <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses<\/b>: Ecology; Sustainability and Production; Science and Society; Chemistry of Modern Poly Materials; Sustainable Core; Sustainability and Fashion<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Faculty<\/b>: David Burke, a product and package designer; Michelle Hinebrooke, a museum curator with exhibitions across the globe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special project<\/b>: As a part of the CSDS, the Pratt Design Incubator for Sustainable Innovation<\/a> was founded in 2002 and is based on four sectors: clean energy, fashion, design and design consulting. Currently, the incubator hosts 12 businesses, and has just opened the Pratt Pop-up shop in Brooklyn, New York.<\/p>\n\n\n

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5. Otis College of Art and Design (Los Angeles, CA)<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the top art schools on the West Coast, Otis<\/a> offers its students a wide network of industry leaders specializing in sustainable fashion and design. Not just limited to fashion design, throughout different departments, spanning from Fashion Design to even Toy Design, sustainability education heavily influences the school\u2019s curriculum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Program<\/b>: BA in Fashion Design<\/a> offers \u201ccore coursework that explores eco-friendly, smart design,\u201d according to the school\u2019s website<\/a>; minor in sustainability<\/a> is available for all majors.<\/p>\n\n\n