Catalog Description

Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Exploration of the tenets of sustainability and social change in fashion. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice are analyzed in product development, operations, and promotion of fashion. Fashion brand strategies to decrease the environmental impact of fashion products. Longevity of use, supply chain transparency, regulations, and media coverage all along the fashion process are addressed. (CSU)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Evaluate personal fashion choices and their impact to select better options.
  • CSLO #2: Compare the business frameworks fashion brand companies have adopted to address environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability issues.
  • CSLO #3: Create a plan to educate and support the concept of universal design and promotion.\\n\\n

Effective Term

Fall 2024

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

  1. evaluate company options using the Higg Index tools;
  2. describe environmental, economic, social, and cultural sustainability issues in the global fashion industry;
  3. describe relevant issues in the fashion industry related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice;
  4. assess strategies used by fashion brands to decrease the environmental impact of their products;
  5. describe and explain strategies fashion brands use to design and merchandise fashion products for potential longevity of use;
  6. explain consumer/user attitudes and behaviors that affect longevity of use of fashion products;
  7. discuss issues in the global fashion industry supply that introduce risks for fashion brand companies;
  8. define and explain supply chain management strategies associates with supply chain assurance, traceability, and transparency;
  9. describe the strategies fashion brand and retail companies use to promote environmental, social, economic and cultural sustainability;
  10. provide examples of fashion brand companies whose social objectives are equally or even more important than their business objectives;
  11. outline initiatives and strategies used to educate and empower consumers
  12. explain interconnected strategies for creating a circular fashion system, including redefining fashion consumption;
  13. discuss the importance of leadership across and collaborations among fashion brand companies in achieving sustainable fashion supply chains.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Classroom Discussions
            • Example: Each student will choose a company to share with the class. They will present what they believe is the company's greatest strength in promoting their sustainability. After sharing everyone will discuss the companies' best practices and how they might be improved.
          • Essay Examinations
            • Example: Based on the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals select three and write about how fashion companies can think outside of traditional design, manufacturing and sales methods to educate consumers.
          • Projects
            • Example: Sustainability Journal demonstrates increased awareness of issues and options for change. Completion of weekly reflections and a plan for moving forward from an informed point of view. There may be weekly additional prompts to emphasize the learning that week. These will be graded weekly for completion and demonstration of understanding and application of the information.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lecture:

          1. Fashion Transparency. The instructor will present a lecture summarizing economic sustainability in terms of scalability of strategies around environment, social, and cultural sustainability. The class will discuss the 3 Ps framework for Measuring Sustainability Goals, which includes People, Planet, and Profit. After the lecture students will choose a fashion brand to research using the Fashion Transparency Index. They will work independently to describe the brands score in 5 key areas. They will select one of the key areas that the company could improve and describe three initiatives that could boost their score. This assignment will be submitted. After listening to the lecture Online students will be assigned a company to research and turn in the recap assignment.

          Distance Learning

          1. Fashion Transparency. The instructor will present a lecture summarizing economic sustainability in terms of scalability of strategies around environment, social, and cultural sustainability on Canvas. After reading the lecture students will choose a fashion brand to research using the Fashion Transparency Index. They will work independently to describe the brands score in 5 key areas. They will select one of the key areas that the company could improve and describe three initiatives that could boost their score. They will share their findings in a DB post.

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          Read current news articles on Sustainability efforts in Fashion and report to the class your findings and impressions on the effectiveness and viability of these methods. Read in our text book about the circular fashion and be prepared to discuss how this works at a personal and industry level.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          What is in your closet? Select one of your clothing items. Describe the item in detail including brand, fabric content, and origin. Provide a photo or sketch. Research the company. Describe and explain two issues that may be evident in the design, production or distribution of this garment. Write an email to the company offering your thoughts and appreciation for the specific work they are doing and what other ideas they might implement to improve sustainability. Sustainability journal - semester long compilation of choices and observations that students make as they move through the material. Weekly writing prompts based on the material and how it relates to and impacts their lives.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Become part of the solution. Identify a local, regional, or global problem or cause that you would be interested in helping to address. Research this issue and create an action plan for your participation in correcting the problem or supporting the cause. Acknowledging Fashion Brands that create Universal Designs. Compare and contrast two fashion companies. Choose one company that you see fulfilling the principles of Universal Design. and choose one that you believe could do better. Give recognition to the company that is moving forward in a positive direction. Detail what the other company could be doing to better serve up Universal Design.

          Required Materials

          • Sustainability and Social Change in Fashion
            • Author: Leslie Davis Burns
            • Publisher: Fairchild
            • Publication Date: 2022
            • Text Edition: 1st
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:
          • A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion
            • Author: Alison Gwilt
            • Publisher: Bloomsbury
            • Publication Date: 2020
            • Text Edition: 2nd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.