Sometimes when we say we work with sustainable fashion people look at us like... "Mmmm, is it really possible for something like fashion to be sustainable?" And let's face it, people are right being suspicious. If anything the fashion industry has become increasingly unsustainable over the last decades, using more and more natural resources and creating more and more waste.
In this course, we provide an overview of business model theory and discuss business models as essential tools in the transformation towards more sustainable businesses. Throughout the course, we will use business model theory as a foundation to look at how real-world fashion brands are adopting more sustainable ways of doing business. We will provide you with a rich opportunity to examine their efforts and consider strategies for your own organisation. Hopefully, you can also enlighten us with some local examples in your own countries for us to discover together new ways of dealing with sustainability.
By the end of the course, you have an understanding of the overall challenges and potential solutions for businesses to become more sustainable. You will learn about the challenges and opportunities of implementing circular business models and we will introduce various tools that companies use to measure and report about sustainability. You will be able to think about business model theory in new ways and apply strategies to manage business model innovation towards sustainable practices.
This is a very exciting time to be working in the fashion industry, so let's get started!
Overview
Syllabus
- Introduction
- The fascinating thing about fashion is that everybody wears clothes every day. No matter where you live or how much money you have. It is something we all share. Therefore clothing is an incredibly interesting starting point for a discussion about sustainability and sustainable business. Over the last decades, questions of sustainability have become increasingly prominent in the industry. As a response, important efficiency gains in the production and processing of clothing, for instance in the form of water management and electricity use, have been made. Nonetheless, due to the ever-increasing demand for materials, things have only gotten worse, not better. In response, we now see institutions like the European Union introducing regulation to put an end to fast fashion and shift business and consumption practices towards durability, repair, and care. In effect, what we’re looking towards is a re-creation of our clothing culture and business models. Maybe a return to clothing cultures (in plural), in such a way that newness will no longer be a matter of new trends (and waste) every second week, but a matter of clothing with actual identity embracing cultural and bodily differences. To respond to this increase in critical consumers and media and, not least, regulation, fashion companies need to find more sustainable ways of doing business. This is no easy task, but it is an urgent and exciting one that requires collaboration and new ways of doing business! In this module, you will meet representatives from the industry who will briefly introduce you to some of the fundamental challenges and opportunities for practising sustainability. Moreover, you will meet us, Esben, Ana and Kirsti, who will have the pleasure of guiding you throughout this course.
- Three Key Concepts
- In this module, we will introduce you to the textile and fashion industry. First, we will touch upon some of the basic numbers - e.g., what is the size of the industry? Then we will look into some of the fascinating processes behind the making of garments, but also discuss some of the fundamental challenges that the industry is facing in relation to social and environmental sustainability. Next we will introduce the concepts of sustainability and business models. This will give you the foundation to continue your explorations into business models for sustainability innovation within the textile and fashion industry.
- Business Models for Sustainability in Fashion
- This module will introduce you to a theoretical framework for sustainable business models and the differences between these models and traditional business models. Additionally, you'll gain insights from Elena Salcedo, an expert in sustainable business models employed by one of the world's leading fashion brands, as she shares her perspectives on questions related to sustainability transformation. You will also have the opportunity to meet Silke Sønderstrup-Grandquist and Anja Padget from the Danish consulting firm, Sourcing House, who will share their experiences of working with brands to transform business practices towards sustainability. Finally, Thomas Medard Frederiksen and Stine Vestergaard-Hansen, Co-Founders of SassyLab will introduce us to their second-hand platform SassyLab. They will discuss challenges and opportunities in making the resale of garments a profitable business.
- Circular Economy in Fashion
- In this module, you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts that delineate the circular economy as a whole, with a specific focus on circular fashion. We will outline some of the challenges confronting the fashion industry in its transition towards circularity. Following this overview, you will have the opportunity to hear insights from our colleague Dr. Kerli Kant Hvass, who has many years of experience working with both public and private stakeholders on questions of the circular economy. Additionally, Kirsti will present interesting examples of companies within the fashion sector working towards circularity. Finally, you will also become acquainted with MUD Jeans, a company pioneering the leasing and recycling of jeans. We hope you will find this journey engaging and enlightening. As also emphasised in the readings for this module, there is a growing recognition that for the circular economy to truly advance sustainable development, it's imperative for industries to prioritise investment in the inner circles of circularity. These include Refuse (to generate waste in the first place), Reuse, and Repair, all aimed at prolonging the active lifespan of garments.
- Materials & Sustainability
- The materials used in garment production garner significant attention in discussions surrounding the industry's sustainability. Indeed, factors such as the types and blends of fibres, manufacturing processes, treatments, intended product applications, and usage considerations exert substantial influence on a material's overall sustainability performance. In this module, we delve into a nuanced examination of the pivotal role materials can play in the industry's journey towards sustainability. Beginning with a broad overview of the challenges and opportunities associated with materials and sustainability, we turn to insights from Professor Ingun Grimstad Klepp, an expert in clothing and sustainability. Professor Klepp highlights a critical issue: the prevalent focus on fibres overlooks significant sustainability impacts, particularly in processes like dyeing and finishing. Additionally, we hear from Carolina Alvarez-Ossorio, Chief Marketing Officer of the Spanish brand ECOALF, who emphasises the importance of collaboration and knowledge-sharing in advancing sustainable material development. While acknowledging that material selection alone cannot ensure garment or business sustainability, adopting an informed approach to fiber and processing choices, coupled with understanding user needs and prioritizing extended product lifespan, can yield substantial benefits. With these insights in mind, let's explore the diverse materials that form the foundation of the fashion industry.
- Organisational Approaches to Sustainable Fashion
- In this module, we will delve into specific examples of startups and well-established brands trying to navigate questions of sustainability. If not already clear by now, you’ll see that there is no one road to sustainability. You'll discover diverse approaches, tools, and the realities faced by fashion brands striving for sustainability. What sustainable business models exist? Is achieving 100% sustainability feasible? How do you measure your level of sustainability? You'll gain insights from Elisabeth Stray Pedersen, Founder of the Norwegian brand ESP. Pedersen continuously explores local textile and garment production possibilities, starting from the design phase. Additionally, you'll meet Alba Garcia, Founder of BCOME, whose vision is to equip businesses with the knowledge and tools necessary to enhance the responsibility and efficiency of their production systems. Garcia advocates for the significance of knowledge and transparency in the industry's shift towards sustainability. Stay tuned to witness how these brands progress towards sustainability.
- Partnerships and Tensions
- In this module, we turn to partnerships for sustainability and the potential tensions that can emerge when collaborating. You will explore various partnership models and the challenges and opportunities inherent in working together. For example, Professor Lori Devito will share insights from the Responsible Denim project, highlighting strategies for effectively managing cross-sector collaborations to benefit all stakeholders, including society. We encourage you to remain engaged with this crucial topic as we collectively progress towards a sustainable fashion industry and clothing culture.
- Course assessment
- In this final assignment, you must take the skills you have learned to use in a case study of a fashion brand, manufacturer or other organization engaged in the textile and fashion industry.
Taught by
Kirsti Reitan Andersen, Ana Lucia Diaz Schiavon and Esben Rahbek Gjerdrum Pedersen
Tags
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