The information on this page is accurate for students entering the programme in 2023/2024 or before. For students entering the programme from September 2024 or after, you can find the details of your programme: BA Sustainable Fashion(For students entering from September 2024 onwards)
Consumers, brands, governments, NGOs and students recognise the sustainability challenges that the fashion industry faces now and in the future. Many of these stakeholders also recognise the importance of fashion to individuals’ self-identity and self-esteem, and the role fashion can play in supporting the worker communities involved in making the clothes we all wear. Balancing the sustainability of the industry with the benefits it can bring requires specialist knowledge of the fashion system and there are new employment opportunities for graduates who understand sustainable fashion.
The BA Sustainable Fashion will provide graduates with a broad understanding of the complex sustainability issues the fashion and the textile industry currently faces and explores the future opportunities for a more sustainable approach for the sector. This is based on taking a systemic view of sustainability and fashion, where fashion is considered a cultural phenomena, as well as a globalised industry providing employment for millions of workers. The importance of society, business, technology and consumer factors are used to develop understanding of the complex interactions within the industry.
Sustainability is explored from a theoretical and from a practical perspective, with real life industry case studies and cutting-edge research from the University of Leeds used to illustrate the complexity of sustainability for fashion. With a diverse teaching team, consisting of researchers and experienced teaching fellows many of whom have many years of industrial experience, the programme aims to provide a multi-disciplinary view of sustainability and fashion that explores and unravels the multifaceted nature of the subject area.
To support this approach students will be encouraged to consider sustainability in terms of:
• the globalised nature of fashion
• the role of fashion for consumers, workers and for industry
• importance of creativity and innovation for the development of sustainable solutions
The programme dissects sustainability by exploring real world challenges and by considering opportunities to improve the industry by using the Triple Bottom Line (environment, society, and economics) framework. Application of the framework requires an understanding of the full lifecycle of fashion products. This lifecycle approach is used throughout the 3 years of the programme and explores sustainability through a focus on materials, production, distribution (retailing), consumer use and end of life.
The lifecycle approach is supplemented by, and is underpinned by the following themes:
• Understanding consumer behaviour for the purchase and use of fashion
• Design and product development processes
• Principles of business and management
Graduates from this programme will be aware of the positive and negative impacts of fashion for consumers, workers and the industry. Graduates will also have an understanding of the personal and professional opportunities they can have in shaping the future sustainability of the industry throughout their chosen career.
They will develop knowledge of the dynamics of the fashion industry as it is today and be cognitive of the future directions for the industry. As there will be an emphasis on the role innovation can play in addressing the key challenges the industry faces in the future, they will have skills that set them apart from other graduates in this field.
Graduates will be equipped with the skills, knowledge and practical experience that will allow them to develop their career opportunities across a diverse range of
roles within the fashion industry including sustainability, buying, product development, technology, and retail and supply chain management. There will also be career opportunities to work in areas such as corporate social responsibility, policy making and the supply chain. Alternatively graduates may wish to exploit their skills and knowledge to pursue research opportunities.
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN1248 | Sustainable Fashion | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | PFP |
| DESN1260 | Design Studies: Foundation | 20 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | |
| DESN1381 | Fashion Lifecycle 1: Materials and Process | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN1382 | Fashion Lifecycle 2: Products, Users, End of Life | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN1383 | The Fashion Industry | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional or discovery modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN1235 | Colour Design and Application | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN1245 | Creative Thinking | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN1416 | Introduction to Photography | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN2008 | Design Studies: Exploration | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN2014 | Fashion Management: Issues & Strategies | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN2015 | Strategic Marketing for the Creative Industries | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN2381 | Sustainable Product Development | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN2382 | Green Processes | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
Candidates may study up to 20 credits from the following optional or discovery modules:
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN2012 | Designing for Colour | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN2013 | Digital Photography | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN2156 | Contemporary Illustration | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN2747 | Collage Culture | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) |
[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable
Candidates must study the compulsory modules listed below
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN3382 | The Sustainable Product | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | PFP |
| DESN3383 | Sustainable Fashion Strategy and Innovation | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) | |
| DESN3469 | Fashion Revolutions | 20 | Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN3660 | Independent Study (Dissertation) | 40 | Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) | PFP |
Candidates may study 0-20 credits from the following optional modules.
The School of Design is in the process of developing a new suite of optional modules that will be structured under 6 main themes.
Therefore, the optional modules listed are indicative only and what currently exists in the School of Design.
| Code | Title | Credits | Semester | Pass for Progression |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DESN3582 | Fashion Styling and Photography | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) | |
| DESN3585 | Collaborative Marketing and Promotion | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| DESN3725 | Information Design | 20 | Not running in 202526 | |
| DESN3770 | Contemporary Advertising | 20 | Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) |
Alternatively, students may study Discovery modules
Students must study 120 credits in each year of their course. These should be split as evenly as possible across the two semesters.
Last updated: 15/05/2025 08:55:12
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