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Climate Action Plan case study: Centre for Sustainable Fashion

A person sits and smiles next to a jacket that says
  • Written byCentre for Sustainable Fashion
A person sits and smiles next to a jacket that says
Centre for Sustainable Fashion, GenGreen workshop at Waltham Forest College, 2019 | Photograph: Curtis Gibson

Shaping Fashion Design for Sustainability as a field of study

Working across research, education and knowledge exchange, Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF) engages in transformation design. We cross-reference fashion’s ecological, social, economic and cultural agendas. CSF shape and contribute to Fashion Design for Sustainability as a field of study.

The Centre’s work and projects span: creating design frameworks for fashion businesses, public exhibitions and research into topics like post-growth economics. CSF’s impact is realised in global action for climate and environmental justice. We redefine the leadership of UK fashion design and education on a world stage. We create new models and measures of success in fashion businesses.

Fostering sustainable practices

The Fostering Sustainable Practices (FSP) project investigates creative practice in fashion design-led micro and small enterprises (MSEs) as a potential driver for change towards a more sustainable future. CSF worked with UK fashion creatives and support-organisations to reveal what sustainability in action looks like.

One of the projects outcomes was Fashion as Sustainability in Action. An in depth and definitive guide to fashion as a contributor to cultural, social, environmental and economic prosperity. With the aim to elevate and promote best practice. The guidebook showcases how fashion can make a positive social and cultural contribution, within nature’s limits.

The collaborative project was underpinned by over 2 and a half years of research and over 100 in-depth interviews. The project recognises the designers whose practices do, or could, contribute to cultures, societies, and ecological and economic systems. That are life and livelihood-sustaining, as well as creatively fulfilling.

The project also set out a policy briefing for how the UK government can help to amplify sustainability in action. By recognising and supporting the work of these pioneers and giving opportunities for others to join them. It outlined 10 points for consideration.