A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Identifying Pedagogies for Teaching Sustainability Issues to Fashion Students

Abstract

This paper identifies how educational experiences have influenced attitudes, raised awareness of sustainability issues and increased sustainable literacy amongst a group of second-year Bachelor of Design (Fashion) students at Otago Polytechnic, New Zealand. This research project establishes a baseline understanding of student knowledge and awareness, attitudes and motivation towards sustainability via a survey conducted before and after a lecture series. The application and integration of this learning is evaluated through a practice-based collaborative project. Our analysis identifies the most effective pedagogies to use when integrating sustainability into the fashion curriculum. The implications of these findings are discussed for higher education and in particular the need for institutions to provide an environment which supports new approaches to teaching and learning.