How to Build a Sustainable Fashion Business

Creative Skillset

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Start Date: 25 Jul, 2016
5 weeks
Study Content: Videos

Learn from leading entrepreneurs what it takes to create a successful fashion business, with a social or environmental ethos.

Course Fee: Free

Certificate Cost: See Fees and Eligibility

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Introduction

Introduction Video

Course Description

This course is made available through the eLearnAfrica and FutureLearn partnership.

We’re the Ethical Fashion Forum, the global industry body for sustainable fashion. Since 2006, we’ve been helping fashion professionals achieve commercial success, while maximising benefits to communities and minimising negative environmental impacts.

Research shows that most CEOs believe that sustainability is important to their company’s reputation, and that companies with strong ethical commitments often outperform those who don’t. Consumers too increasingly care about the social and environmental impact of the products they choose to buy.

Learn how fashion can make a difference

In this five-week, free online course we explore what sustainability means in the context of running a fashion business. This course is for anyone who wants to start or grow a fashion business, in a sustainable and ethical way.

We’ll cover:

goal setting and business strategy;

an overview of the key sustainability issues;

brand strategy and product planning;

financing your work;

how to set up a supply chain;

how to find sustainably made fabrics and ethical manufacturers;

product development;

how to tell your sustainability story;

marketing strategy and promotion;

and how to find customers and sell products.

Gain insights from established entrepreneurs and experts

You’ll hear from established entrepreneurs and brands about how they’ve managed to build a successful business without compromising their values. You’ll also get practical tips from industry experts with many years’ experience turning ideas into products and taking them to market.

You will hear from:

Orsola de Castro, Co-founder of Fashion Revolution and From Somewhere

Ada Zanditon, Creative Director of Ada Zanditon Couture and Co-founder of Ada + Nik

Merryn Leslie, Owner of 69b boutique

Michelle Lowe-Holder, Owner of Michelle-Lowe Holder

Riz Smith, Creative Director of Riz Boardshorts

Anna Skodbo, Owner and Creative Director of Phannatiq

Russell Spiller, Director of Mantis World

Deborah Campbell, Owner of Deborah Campbell Atelier

Sarah Greenaway, Founder of Mosami

Clare Lissaman, Founder of Arthur & Henry and supply chain consultant

Build your business strategy with a purpose

Each week will contain a variety of learning activities that will help you understand how to start up and grow a fashion business, and how to do this with positive social and environmental impact.

Week 1 - Introduction to Sustainable Fashion

Week 2 - Building Your Brand

Week 3 - Getting Started: The Business of Sustainable Fashion

Week 4 - Building Sustainable Supply Chains

Week 5 - Sales and Marketing

This course should equip you with the confidence to get started in the area of sustainability and fashion. You’ll be encouraged to discuss your thoughts with other learners and educators, and to unleash some of your creative thinking.

Image credit: © Deborah Campbell Atelier

There are no entry requirements beyond a desire to learn more. However if you already have some fashion and/or business studies or experience this course will enhance your knowledge with practical takeaways. This course is for anyone who wants to see fashion have a more positive impact on our world.

This course is provided through eLearnAfrica’s partnership with FutureLearn.

Please note that, should you choose to purchase a Certificate of Achievement or a Statement of Participation, you will be re-directed to the FutureLearn for processing.

The following information is from the Future Learn website:

What is a Certificate of Achievement?

A Certificate of Achievement is a valuable certificate to prove what you’ve learned on your course.

Your Certificate will include your name; an outline of what you’ve learned and how long it took; the logos of the university and other organisations associated with your course. Your printed certificate will also include the lead educator’s signature.

In addition to the digital and printed certificate, you will receive a detailed transcript of what you’ve learned, how long it took and your average test score (if your course contained tests).

You can view our page about Certificates of Achievement to see what they look like.

How do I qualify for a Certificate of Achievement?

To be eligible to buy a Certificate of Achievement, you must:

complete 90% of the steps in a course (by using the “Mark as complete” button on each step),
attempt every test question in the course,
score over 70% on average across all course tests.

How do I buy a Certificate of Achievement?

If you’re taking a course, we’ll email you details of how to buy a Certificate of Achievement, once you’re eligible for one.

How much does a Certificate of Achievement cost?

The cost of the Certificate of Achievement varies depending on the course. They normally cost from £39.00 (GBP) to £59.00 (GBP) + shipping. The price shown includes a digital and printed certificate and transcript, and VAT or local sales tax. The exact price for your course will be shown within the course itself.

What if I don’t qualify to buy a Certificate of Achievement?

If you don’t qualify to buy a Certificate of Achievement because your test score does not meet the 70% pass threshold, you have a couple of options. You will still be able to purchase a Statement of Participation for the course, or you could join a later run of the course. Unfortunately it is not possible to retake tests in FutureLearn courses.

What is a Statement of Participation?

A Statement of Participation is a collectable printed and digital record that you can buy, to show that you’ve taken part in a FutureLearn course. Statements are available for the vast majority of FutureLearn courses in both digital and printed formats. You can view our page about Statements of Participation to see what they look like.

Your Statement will include your name; a short summary of the course and how long it took; the logo of the university and other organisations associated with your course. In addition, your printed certificate will also include the lead educator’s signature.

Your Statement will confirm that you’ve completed the majority of steps in a course and attempted all test questions, but it will not show your individual level of completion or your test scores.

How do I qualify for a Statement of Participation?

To be eligible to buy a Statement of Participation, you must complete over half of the steps in a course (by using the “Mark as complete” button on each step) and attempt all test questions.

How do I buy a Statement of Participation?

If you’re taking a course, we’ll email you details of how to buy a Statement of Participation, once you’re eligible for one.

To be eligible, you must complete the majority of steps in the course and attempt all test questions. You can check how close you are to being eligible on your course progress page.

How much does a Statement of Participation cost?

The cost of a Statement of Participation varies depending on the course. They cost from at £19.00 (GBP) to £34.00 (GBP) plus shipping. The price shown includes a digital and printed version, and VAT or local sales tax. The exact price for your course will be shown within the course itself.

For more information on Fees and Eligibility, please feel free to consult the Frequently Asked Questions:

If you do not find an answer to your question, you can also contact FutureLearn directly via email, at: feedback@futurelearn.com

The information provided was current as of 22 September 2016. Please visit Certificates and Statements to check for changes.

Certificate cost may vary. You will be redirected to the host page for cost and payment options.

This course is provided through eLearnAfrica’s partnership with FutureLearn. To go directly to a specific Category of Frequently Asked Questions, please feel free to click on any of the links below (you will be redirected to the FutureLearn website):

Creative Skillset

Creative Skillset empowers the Creative Industries to develop skills and talent. Creative Skillset influences and shapes policy, ensures quality and secures the vital investment for individuals to become the best in their field and for businesses to grow.

Creative Skillset has invested in the creation of this suite of free online courses for creative professionals, as part of a wider programme to explore sustainable, innovative models for training suited to the UK’s fast-evolving creative sector. Partnering with institutions and organisations with a strong track record in training creative professionals, these courses will address skills that are in high demand by the creative industries.

This institution is available on eLearnAfrica through partnership with FutureLearn.

You may be able to download course materials after enrolling in this course. If not, all of the necessary course materials provided by the course instructor will be available on the provider's course page.

COLLABORATION POLICY

By enrolling in a course on or through eLearnAfrica, you are joining a special worldwide community of learners. The aspiration of eLearnAfrica is to provide anyone with an internet connection access to courses from the best universities and institutions in the world and to provide our learners the best educational experience internet technology enables. You are a part of the community that will help eLearnAfrica achieve this goal. eLearnAfrica depends upon your motivation to learn the material and to do so with honesty and academic integrity. In order to participate in eLearnAfrica, you must agree to the Honor Code below and any additional terms specific to a class.

ELEARNAFRICA HONOR CODE PLEDGE

By enrolling in a course, program, or degree hosted on the eLearnAfrica App or Site, I agree that I will:

Complete all tests and assignments on my own, unless collaboration on an assignment is explicitly permitted.
Maintain only one user account and not let anyone else use my username and/or password.
Not engage in any activity that would dishonestly improve my results, or improve or hurt the results of others.
Not post answers to problems that are being used to assess student performance.
Abide by any and all requirements of the eLearnAfrica Participants as may regard the expectations of civil or academic behavior or of community standards.

VIOLATIONS

If you are found in violation of the Terms and Conditions or Honor Code, you may be subject to one or more of the following actions:

Receiving a zero or no credit for an assignment;
Having any certificate earned in the course withheld or revoked;
Being unenrolled from a course, learning program or degree program; or
Termination of your use of the App and/or Site.
Additional actions may be taken at the sole discretion of eLearnAfrica and eLearnAfrica course providers.

No refunds will be issued in the case of any corrective action for such violations.

Honor code violations will be determined at the sole discretion of eLearnAfrica, the Partners, or Members. You will be notified if a determination has been made that you have violated this honor code and you will be informed of the corresponding action to be taken as a result of the violation.

CHANGING THE HONOR CODE

Please note that we review and may make changes to this Honor Code from time to time. Any changes to this Honor Code will be effective immediately upon posting on this page, with an updated effective date. By accessing the App and/or Site after any changes have been made, you signify your agreement on a prospective basis to the modified Honor Code and any changes contained therein. Be sure to return to this page periodically to ensure familiarity with the most current version of this Honor Code.

Effective Date: September 22, 2016