The degree equips students with knowledge about ethics, zero-waste techniques and sustainable design practices.
Fast fashion is bad for the environment – the textile waste crisis is accelerating at a rate on track to account for 25 per cent of the global carbon budget by 2050 – and consumers are starting to demand more from clothing labels. Transparency, ethical design practices and fair working conditions are increasingly at the forefront of buyers’ minds, and brands must shift their approach to stay relevant and sustainable.
Education is one of the best ways to keep up with consumer demands and ensure a sustainable future for fashion, so creative tertiary college Collarts recently launched Australia’s first sustainable fashion course to meet these demands.
The degree educates students about ethical responsibility, zero-waste techniques and sustainable design practices, as well as styling, enterprise and everything else you need to know to succeed in the industry.
The course is led by Doctor Rachel Matthews, an industry expert who has designed for Whistles and John Lewis and worked on projects for Elle and Brides. She says the course will benefit designers, consumers and the planet.
“Fashion consumers want to feel good about the clothes they put on their backs. As a result, the industry is having to change the way it’s doing things,” says Matthews. “Not only is this helping to create a greener planet, it’s helping create a new job market.”
Photography: Jake Roden
