Fashion's Future: The Sustainable Development Goals

Discover how fashion and the Sustainable Development Goals are linked

The global fashion industry has an enormous social impact and ecological footprint. Many of us don’t understand how the clothes we wear every day affects the world around us.

Upon completing this 4-week course by Fashion Revolution, you’ll be empowered with new knowledge and ideas to contribute towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through your own wardrobe.

Why we need a fashion revolution

At the start of the course, you’ll explore how clothing is made and the social and environmental impacts of the fashion industry. We’ll discuss what sustainable fashion really means, and explore why the industry needs to change.

You’ll also gain an understanding of what the Sustainable Development Goals are, and how improvements in global fashion supply chains and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals are intrinsically linked.

Why the Sustainable Development Goals matter

Next, we’ll be looking in-depth at how our clothes affect global issues such as poverty, gender inequality, forced and bonded labour, child labour and other labour and human rights abuses.

You will also explore how our clothing impacts the planet’s health and ecosystems, analysing issues such as global warming, microplastic pollution in our oceans, and the loss of forests and biodiversity. You’ll identify which Sustainable Development Goals relate to these issues.

Consuming and producing sustainable fashion

In the final week of the course, you’ll look at global consumption habits as a key driver of many of the fashion industry’s social and environmental impacts.

You’ll explore potential solutions and conclude the week with a set of actions that we can all take to build a fashion industry that ensures our clothing is made in a safe, clean, fair and sustainable way.

This course is for anyone wanting to learn more about the fashion industry, fair trade, international development, and the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes fashion professionals or students and activists interested in environmental protection and sustainable consumption.

• Why we need a fashion revolution and how it links to the Sustainable Development Goals
• Welcome to the course
• What is sustainable fashion
• Introducing the Sustainable Development Goals
• Analysis, reflection and further reading
• Fashion, people, and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Welcome to Week 2
• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• Goal 8: Inclusive economic growth and decent work for all
• Analysis, reflection and further reading
• Fashion, the environment and the Sustainable Development Goals
• Welcome to Week 3
• Goal 13: Climate Action
• Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation and Goal 14: Life Below Water
• Goal 15: Protect and restore ecosystems, forests and biodiversity
• Analysis, reflection and further reading
• Responsible consumption and production in the fashion industry
• Welcome to Week 4
• Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
• What you can do to create positive change in the fashion industry
• Thank you!