Explore the environmental impact of fast fashion in Ghana and discover localised solutions to a global issue. Learn to create collective change with Ghanaian creatives at THE REVIVAL. Almost three-quarters of all textile waste is incinerated or sent to landfill. On this two-week course, you’ll discover the global impact of fast fashion. You’ll explore how THE REVIVAL, a collective of Ghanaian creatives, are using artistic ingenuity to resolve textile waste challenges in their community and use this as inspiration to create your own localised solutions.

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Investigate a global perspective of circular economy

In the UK alone, over a million tonnes of clothing ends up as waste.

You’ll examine what happens to waste textiles and how a circular economy can transform fashion waste by generating jobs, reducing inequality, and minimising the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

Using real-world case studies to contextualise your learning, you’ll be able to develop your own approach to conscious fashion and take responsibility for your fashion choices.

Explore upcycling culture and develop creative upcycling ideas

You’ll learn practical tips for upcycling, discovering how community level actions impact global fashion consumption.

Sharing your ideas, you’ll engage with other learners, developing upcycling ideas and projects with an ethical purpose.

Develop an understanding of sustainable fashion using ethnographic research

The work of THE REVIVAL is extensively featured in the Eileen Fisher Foundation & Pentatonic Textile Waste Crisis report (launching 6th July).

You’ll learn about their ethnographic, creative approach to creating change and its wider implications for fashion sustainability and global textile waste.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand circular economies as a response to global textile waste. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge to develop a community of changemakers and inspired to upcycle fashion into one of a kind treasures.

Syllabus

Week 1: Who is a circular economy for?

Week 2: Upcycling for Transformation

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Apply contemporary visual arts and upcycling culture as a tool to shape popular consciousness and foster positive fashion action around the globe

- Describe the cultural, economic and environmental impacts of fast fashion and foreign "fashion aid/textile donations" in Ghana

- Explore how THE REVIVAL built a global, textile waste enterprise through organic, digital collaboration and trust

- Living-the-data: introduction to concept of ‘ethnography’ and story-based research powered by communities, for communities
Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone with an interest in fashion and sustainability. It is particularly suited to creatives, professionals in the fashion industry, and environmental activists.