If you’re sustainable-curious, know that you’re not alone. While some have a strong grasp of what it means, the majority of us are still trying to figure out the definition behind terms like sustainable, eco, fair trade, fast and slow fashion. In a new study led by Southern Cross University, 77% of people surveyed shared that they want to learn more about sustainable terms and how our habits are impacting the environment. Other surveys show that 88% of consumers want help when it comes to improving their environmental footprint. And, thanks to free online classes, understanding these terms is that much easier.
In 2021, the Slow Factory Foundation partnered with luxury pre-loved retailer Vestiaire Collective for a summer camp series that focused on answering, “What does slow fashion mean?’ The three-week course looked at the history of our throwaway culture, its impact and how slow fashion is a movement that encourages a more circular footprint by reducing waste and reusing items before throwing them away. Classes are taught by experts like author, advocate and speaker Aja Barber and Dounia Wone, Chief Sustainability and Inclusion Officer of Vestiaire Collective.
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Slow Factory Foundation aims to make sustainable education accessible. Classes don’t require a deposit, application or enrollment. Instead, anyone from budding designers to professionals seeking a career change to curious consumers can join in on the classes taught by experts in sustainable literacy. You can log on right now to watch the playback from classes to help you understand the fast and slow fashion systems. Classes are also recorded in sign language to be inclusive for the hearing impaired. Slow Factory Foundation’s system is built on an inclusive open-education platform that openly shares educational resources and classes taught by powerful change makers meant to be watched by all.
With support from sponsors like Adidas, the platform also offers more than just crash courses in sustainable literacy, social and climate justice. There are experimental workshops that look at innovative tools used to better manage waste and encourage circular design. Businesses can be paired with scientists and sustainability experts. Conferences bring together leading Black, Brown and Indigenous voices to offer a platform to discuss social and environmental change. In fact, highlighting historically marginalized voices is a key pillar of this organization that is lead by Black, Brown and Indigenous experts.
All in all, brands and consumers alike have a strong tool for better navigating and understanding sustainable fashion and what all the terms mean that go with it.