Technical Approaches to Sustainable Fashion Short Course
Course description
Course overview
This course provides a practical, end-to-end understanding of how textiles and garments are produced—from fibre and yarn through to fabric construction, dyeing, finishing and garment manufacturing. Drawing on real industry practice, it explores where the most significant environmental and social impacts occur, including water use, chemicals, energy and labour conditions.
Through a combination of lectures, case studies and applied discussions, learners will examine how technical decisions—such as fibre selection, fabric construction, dyeing processes and product development choices—directly influence sustainability outcomes. The course also introduces current innovations, including lower-impact dyeing and material solutions, while critically assessing their practical limitations.
Extending beyond materials, the course connects these insights to product development and circularity, exploring durability, recyclability and end-of-life considerations. By the end, learners will be able to evaluate trade-offs, ask the right questions, and contribute more effectively to cross-functional decision-making across technical, sourcing and sustainability teams.
Who this course is for
This course is designed for fashion professionals, emerging practitioners and students who want to understand how materials, product development and sustainability connect in real-world production.
It is particularly relevant for those working in:
- Product development
- Technical and raw materials
- Sourcing and supply chain
- Sustainability and compliance
- Buying and commercial roles
It is also suitable for individuals looking to transition into sustainability-focused roles within the fashion industry.
No technical background required, though a basic understanding of the fashion industry is beneficial.
Key information
- Fibre, yarn and fabric construction fundamentals
- Dyeing, printing and finishing (wet processing) and impacts
- Garment manufacturing and product development decision points
- Environmental and social sustainability impacts across the lifecycle
- Circularity: durability, recyclability and end-of-life models
Learning outcomes
- Identify the key stages of textile and garment production from fibre to finished product
- Identify where the most significant environmental and social impacts occur within the supply chain
- Apply knowledge of fibres, fabric construction and wet processing to assess sustainability impacts
- Evaluate materials and manufacturing processes in relation to sustainability, performance and cost
- Identify opportunities to improve sustainability outcomes through material and product decisions
- Assess how design and material choices influence durability, recyclability and end-of-life outcomes
- Apply a structured approach to balancing technical feasibility with sustainability goals
- Communicate technical and sustainability considerations clearly across product, sourcing and sustainability teams
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Notebook and pen
- Laptop or tablet (optional)
- Optional: examples of garments or materials you are working with
Tutor
Manjula Witharana
Learn how responsible sourcing works in practice — beyond claims, labels and slogans.
Manjula is a sustainability and technical specialist in fashion supply chains with over 25 years of global industry experience, spanning sourcing, product development, material engineering and fabric technology, and sustainability. She has worked across the full supply chain — from fabric mills and garment factories through to brand and retail teams — giving her a deep, practical understanding of how sourcing and product decisions shape environmental, social and commercial outcomes.
A Chartered Engineer (CText ATI) with a First Class BSc (Hons) in Textile Engineering, Manjula combines strong technical foundations with extensive experience in sustainable sourcing, ethical trade, product compliance, certification systems and supplier risk management. Alongside industry roles, she does independent consultancy work, supporting brands and organisations to bridge the gap between sustainability ambition, technical development and commercial realities, and to embed responsible sourcing approaches that work within real supply chain constraints.
Manjula is particularly recognised for her ability to translate complex technical and sourcing systems into clear, workable decision making, helping teams understand what sustainability means in real supply chain contexts — not just in policy or marketing. Her teaching is grounded in real industry cases, audits and sourcing scenarios, equipping learners with the confidence, critical thinking and practical tools needed to make credible, defensible sourcing decisions in today’s fashion industry.
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