This seven-session short course is designed for fashion students, emerging designers, and creatives seeking a structured yet accessible introduction to sustainability in apparel design. The course emphasizes shorter, focused lectures paired with hands-on activities, allowing students to immediately apply concepts during each session.

The course explores sustainability across the full lifecycle of a garment—from design and production through distribution, use, and reuse. Each session builds progressively, reinforcing learning through applied exercises and collaborative discussion.

Note: there is a break between Part 1 and Part 2 of the course during which time students will be given a short assignment.

Part 1: 6/10, 6/17, 6/24
Part 2: 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5

Students will:

• Understand key environmental and social challenges within the fashion industry

• Apply lifecycle thinking to garment design decisions

• Explore practical strategies for responsible design, production, and use

• Experiment with inclusive, modular, and upcycling-based approaches

• Develop design concepts that balance creativity, functionality, and sustainability