FIDM introduces new sustainability course in merchandising and marketing programme

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) has introduced a new sustainability and social responsibility course in the merchandising and marketing programme.

The course aims to raise the awareness of its students to the concept, history and science of sustainability and its connection to the business of ethical fashion, taught by FIDM professor Susan Spencer.

Spencer will focus on the development of eco-friendly materials, how companies are integrating social responsibility for the environment into their business ethos and responsible manufacturing and distribution.

“The B Corp Handbook" written by Ryan Honeyman and Tiffany Jana. B Corps will be the main text used in the course as it is part of a global movement of companies to meet meticulous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Yvon Chouinard, founder of certified B Corporation fashion retailer Patagonia, said in a statement: “I hope that five years from now, ten years from now, we’ll look back and say B Corporations were the start of the revolution. The existing paradigm isn’t working anymore - this is the future.”

As part of the course, students will have to keep an interactive sustainability journal. Jasmine Ilarde, FIDM graduate, added: “Hands down my favourite part of the sustainability journal was the personal connection it encouraged me to have with the material that I was learning about.

“I think so much of the problem with fostering sustainability efforts today is the lack of internal connectivity. I think we often see the bigger problems of climate change and deforestation and get so overwhelmed by the bigger picture that we forget to start small and look within ourselves to find healing solutions to the problems.”