Why Fashion Education Needs to Care About Climate Change

Hundreds of tons of clothing in piles in an abandoned factory for a social mission called Clothing the Loop. — Image Credit: Photo by Francois Le Nguyen on Unsplash

The fashion industry, currently worth $2.5 trillion, is one of the drivers of global economies but it comes with a steep cost, especially to our environment. Clothing production contributes to rampant pollution, from microplastics clogging water systems to carbon emissions and toxic chemicals used in textile processing.

These environmental challenges make it clear that addressing sustainability in fashion is essential. Why have fashion education programs been slow to adapt? Many students today are deeply concerned with issues like climate justice, yet they are graduating without the tools to address these challenges effectively.

The Fashion Education Landscape

Fashion education has historically emphasized the development of individual creativity and technical mastery. Skills like patternmaking, draping, and creative vision are seen as the building blocks of a designer’s craft, which allow students to express their unique vision, central to both the artistic and commercial sides of the fashion industry.

However, this focus on creative skills has led to a significant gap in sustainability education. Fashion schools largely concentrate on longstanding methods of design and production, often sidelining sustainability to elective courses or specialized programs.

Typically, design courses also prioritize mass-production techniques and nonrenewable materials, with little consideration of the full life cycle of a garment from production to disposal. This educational framework perpetuates the unsustainable practices of “fast fashion,” where speed and cost take precedence over environmental and social responsibility.

Research indicates that the fashion industry generates 10 percent of global carbon emissions and produces over 92 million tons of waste each year. Given the scale of the environmental impact, there is a vital need for professionals trained in sustainability to lead the industry’s transition to greener practices.

Industry Needs and Gaps

The urgency of this need is further highlighted by the United Nations Climate Change report, which calls for comprehensive climate transition plans across industries—including fashion—to limit global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. The report stresses the importance of transitioning to circular economies that minimize waste and focus on resource efficiency.

This focus on creative skills has led to a significant gap in sustainability education.

Many fashion brands are still not equipped with the knowledge and expertise necessary to implement these strategies. This presents a significant opportunity for fashion schools to lead the way by educating future designers and business leaders on sustainability.

New Roles with Green Skills

Data show a growing demand for professionals equipped with green skills across multiple sectors. And according to recent findings from the World Economic Forum and Kearney, 66 percent of surveyed business leaders prioritize sustainability credentials over price when selecting suppliers. Yet 94 percent of companies report a lack of personnel capable of effectively executing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agendas.

With government regulations around environmental sustainability becoming stricter, companies are likely to increase their investment in green initiatives, driving up the demand for professionals who can navigate these challenges. Sustainability-focused roles are not only well-compensated, but they also offer more job security for fashion graduates. Unlike traditional fashion design jobs, which are more susceptible to market trends and consumer tastes, sustainability roles align with long-term industry shifts, offering greater career stability.

Sustainability is becoming more than just a trend—it is a necessity for fashion brands striving to remain relevant and ethical in the eyes of increasingly conscious consumers. This shift has created an opening for green-conscious fashion, including nonprofits that upcycle and recycle clothing, and growing demand for professionals skilled in both fashion and environmental sciences.

Fashion education should…make climate change, circular fashion, and eco-friendly practices fundamental subjects.

In addition to design roles, the need for green supply chain management professionals, environmental managers, and sustainability consultants is also on the rise. These experts are responsible for optimizing the life cycle of a product—from sourcing materials to manufacturing and distribution—with a focus on minimizing environmental impact. They ensure regulatory compliance, implement sustainability initiatives, and work with fashion companies to assess and improve their environmental practices, guiding them toward more ethical and eco-friendly operations.

This specialized knowledge is highly sought after, especially by large fashion brands that aim to overhaul their production processes to reduce their carbon footprint.

Interdisciplinary Approaches to Climate

To bridge the disconnect between the fashion industry’s shifting demands and the skills imparted by educational programs, it is important to integrate sustainability into the very fabric of the core curriculum. Fashion education should shift away from merely elective or optional courses in sustainability and instead make climate change, circular fashion, and eco-friendly practices fundamental subjects for all students.

Schools like Central Saint Martins in the UK and Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York have begun embedding sustainability deeper into their fashion programs. For instance, FIT offers courses on how global fashion companies manage ESG issues within their supply chains, while another course teaches students how retailers can align profit objectives with ethical standards. Beyond the fashion-specific courses, additional classes explore the broader environmental impact of design and human activity, offering students a multidisciplinary perspective.

Through integrated sustainability-focused courses across educational formats—including degree programs, certificate courses, workshops, and continuing education initiatives—future designers can be better prepared to address environmental challenges from the start of their careers, rather than treating sustainability as a separate or elective topic.

Partnerships Between Schools and Sustainability Groups

Strong partnerships between fashion schools and sustainability-focused organizations can catalyze change in the industry. Collaborations with environmental experts, NGOs, and leaders in sustainable fashion allow students to learn from real-world practitioners and stay up-to-date with industry innovations.

For instance, Central Saint Martins has partnered with Nike to create a Circular Design Guide, and a program where students work directly with industry leaders to develop sustainable solutions. These partnerships offer students hands-on experience in sustainability, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to drive meaningful change.

The call to action for educational institutions is clear: to embrace these transformative changes and position themselves as leaders in the movement.

Collaborations between fashion schools and sustainability organizations could include internships, joint research initiatives, and guest lectures to ensure students have direct access to current sustainability practices and networks in the fashion industry.

Additionally, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches that combine fashion with fields such as environmental science and economics will provide students with a well-rounded perspective on sustainability. Collaborations with sustainability experts and groups can further enrich the educational experience, supplying students with the practical skills necessary for meaningful impact in the industry.

Reforming fashion education to prioritize sustainability offers long-term advantages, fostering innovation and economic growth while cultivating a workforce that is capable of implementing responsible practices. Integrating sustainability as a core component of curricula will ensure that graduates not only possess strong design skills but also understand the complexities of ethical consumerism.

The call to action for educational institutions is clear: to embrace these transformative changes and position themselves as leaders in the movement toward a sustainable fashion future. By doing so, they can empower the next generation of designers and innovators to drive impactful environmental change, ultimately benefiting both society and the planet.

The fashion industry is at a critical juncture, where sustainability and ethical practices are no longer optional: They are essential.