London College of Fashion
London College of Fashion provides students with opportunities to cover social and environmental issues from Foundation to Masters level. The College also organises extra-curricular activities.
Foundation
Foundation Fashion Buying and Merchandising: Students explored issues around supply chain management, green fabrics and consumer awareness through a fair trade project. The project brief was to research the fashion market and deliver an idea for a capsule collection fair trade range for a retailer of their choice with a ratioanale to back it up.
Contact: Chloe Mason <c.mason_at_fashion.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the course website.
Undergraduate
- Ethical fashion elective open to all BA(hons) for 2nd year students:
Students on this nine week course starting in the 08-09 academic year will explore issues around design or management following ethically and environmentally sound principles including workers' rights, sourcing, buyer-supplier relationships, promotion and marketing, raw materials, ethical fashion and interface with the consumer.
Contact: Dilys Williams <d.williams_at_fashion.arts.ac.uk> or Heather Pickard <h.pickard_at_fashion.arts.ac.uk>
- Honours degree portfolio review:
The honours degree portfolio, i.e. all BA (Hons) degrees, were reviewed and revalidated during the academic year 06/07. As part of this review, the issues of the responsibilities that all LCF students have as designers, product developers, buyers, fashion journalists, fashion photographers etc. were discussed. As a result, a number of courses have embedded, into the curriculum,
- the responsibility to all of those involved in the make of their products: To celebrate their skills, respect their rights, confirm agreed working conditions, adhere to agreed codes of conduct and
- the responsibility to the world: to maintain our resources and to minimise the impact of the products made, packaged, delivered, worn and discarded from our industry.
- Fashion Product degree courses including BA (Hons) Cordwainers Accessories, BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Development and BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear
One of the 6 aims for the 3/4 year courses is that upon successful completion of the course students will be able to demonstrate a practical awareness of the fashion and lifestyle industries in relation to issues affecting economically sound and sustainable outcomes.
Year 1 projects introduce this through an innovative design project Re think Re design Remake which brings in the fundamentals of consumer behaviour, social and environmental awareness and the financial and market considerations in design and product development to inform design and construction decisions.
Year 2 projects develop this through industry related projects. For example. commencing Oct 07, year 2 students will work with Amoosi, to utilise materials donated by Oxfam to celebrate the design possibilities of metamorphosing used clothing into highly desirable and sustainable products.
In the final year, students develop their own concept which should demonstrate (amongst other learning outcomes) consideration of the environmental impact of materials and design processes, awareness of the opportunities and constraints of sustainabiility in design and product development and the responsibilities of designers/product developer.
Contact: Dilys Williams <d.williams_at_fashion.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the course website.
Postgraduate
MA Fashion and the Environment: This course will be proposed for validation in the 07/08 academic year.
Contact: Dilys Williams <d.williams@fashion.arts.ac.uk>
Short courses
Sustainable Solutions for the Fashion Industry
The one-day course aims to demystify the new jargon - what do we mean by green? organic? sustainable? ethical? and offers practical step-by-step advice on how to bring in the changes. Presentations and case studies covering key areas will develop your confidence and knowledge to make real changes in the way you run your business.
Visit the course website
Extra curricular activity
The Green is the New Black week of activities in June 07 including prominent speakers from Industry including Amoosi, Galahad Clark of Terraplana, Adili, Jo Wood, Petra Kjell of Environmental Justice Foundation, Topshop, Tabeisa. Also staff development workshops with Fashioning An Ethical Industry, workshops with students and local schools, film showings, and finally a debate chaired by Caryn Franklyn with panelists Lucy Siegle, Sian Berry, Lucille Lewin and Mike Barry of M&S. An exhibition focusing on products available and data gathering opportunities at the exhibition and online.
Contact: Rebecca Twine on <r.twine_at_fashion.arts.ac.uk>
Visit the Green is the New Black website.
