Fashion schools have always been at the forefront of style innovation, sculpting the minds behind tomorrow's trends. Historically, these bastions of creativity were focused on the meticulous art of craftsmanship: tailoring, draping, and pattern-making ruled the classrooms. As the tapestry of the fashion world evolved, so too did these curricula, embracing the nuances of fashion marketing and business acumen, a nod to the burgeoning need for designers to balance artistic vision with commercial viability.
As we navigate an era where AI's potential looms large and sustainability is not just a choice but a necessity, fashion schools stand at a crossroads. The integration of AI in design and product development and the principles of sustainable design are no longer futuristic concepts but immediate needs. This evolution begs a critical question, one that resonates through the halls of these institutions: Are today's fashion curricula agile enough to future-proof the designers of tomorrow? With the pace of AI and sustainability reshaping the industry, it's imperative for fashion education to transcend traditional boundaries, equipping aspiring designers for not just the fashion world of today but the unknown yet exciting landscape of tomorrow.
In response to the rapid advancements in technologies such as Web3 and artificial intelligence (AI), fashion schools globally have recognised the need to keep pace with these changes and are adapting their curricula to include new technologies like Midjourney and Dall-E.
Central Saint Martins and The London College of Fashion's Fashion Innovation Agency (FIA) incorporated AI into its programs and Esmod in Paris has launched a 'Meta-wear' course, focusing on skills for the metaverse and NFTs and covering tools like Clo 3D, Blender, Maya, and Daz3d. Meanwhile Parsons partnered with the gaming platform Roblox to launch a digital fashion education program and Istituto Marangoni established its virtual world 'The Talent District'. The University for the Creative Arts also contributes to this digital shift with its Master of Digital Fashion program, which equips students to create digital garments using a blend of technology from gaming, animation, digital textile design, and traditional fashion design methodologies. And these are only a few examples.
While schools focus on Digital Product Creation (DPC) and the metaverse, a notable gap is emerging: data will play an increasingly important role and the ability to effectively leverage data-driven insights into fabric, trim, and supplier selection will become pivotal for a future-proof fashion product developer.
While AI is increasingly seen as a core curriculum subject, schools focus on Digital Product Creation (DPC) and the metaverse, and a notable gap is emerging, particularly for those embarking on a career in product development. There's a growing need for building capabilities to harness AI-generated insights for more data-driven product development processes, as we delve into in our in-depth article, 'Beyond Midjourney: A fresh perspective on the role of AI in fashion design.' Data will play an increasingly important role in the competitive fashion industry, and the ability to effectively leverage data-driven insights into fabric, trim, and supplier selection will become pivotal for a future-proof product developer.
In addition to technological innovation, fashion schools around the world are increasingly integrating sustainability into their curricula, reflecting a growing recognition of the fashion industry's impact on the environment and society.
In the US, Parsons The New School for Design mandates its course on Sustainable Systems for all freshmen, and offers an option to specialise in sustainability across majors, while the Fashion Institute of Technology offers a Minor in Ethics and Sustainability. Multiple master programs exist as well: Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design offers a multi-disciplinary M.A. in Material Futures, London College of Fashion a M.A. in Fashion Futures and the Milano Fashion Institute a Master in Product Sustainability Management. Seasonal courses are another form of sustainability education. L’Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) offers two seasonal courses, a two-week course in Fashion Upcycling Design Workshop and a ten-week short online course in Fashion Sustainability: Shaping Fashion’s Future; the Milano Fashion Institute a 4-week course in New Sustainable Fashion; and the Fashion Institute of Technology a 4-week course in Sustainable Design Entrepreneur.
While many renowned institutions have integrated sustainability into their curricula: these offerings often come in the form of temporary courses, are often elective rather than mandatory, and a notable focus is placed on business-related disciplines leaving designers and technical product developers with less exposure.
While many renowned institutions have integrated sustainability into their curricula, a few trends emerge. These offerings often come in the form of temporary courses, lasting only a few weeks, rather than being a fundamental part of the curriculum; are often elective rather than mandatory; and a notable focus is placed on business-related disciplines, leaving designers and technical product developers with less exposure to sustainable practices. These observations are confirmed when tested with Sustainable Design professors across institutions: sustainability remains often siloed from the core curriculum. One professor cited that other professors are strongly opposed to infusing sustainability in the traditional classes as the constraints it brings along, pose “a limit to students' creativity”.
One sustainability professor cited that other professors are strongly opposed to infusing sustainability in the traditional classes as the constraints it brings along, pose “a limit to students' creativity”.
While balancing creativity and constraints is a sensitive topic, the understanding of the sustainability implications of more technical aspects like material and supplier selections will undoubtedly become critical for future-proofing the product developer of tomorrow.
Fashion schools are facing an era of rapidly advancing AI and an increasingly urgent need for sustainability. While progress has been made in integrating AI and sustainability into curricula, there is still work to be done. Fashion education must continue to evolve, transcending traditional boundaries to equip designers with the skills and knowledge needed for the ever-changing fashion landscape. As AI and sustainability reshape the industry, fashion schools have no other choice than to raise the bar, preparing students for a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.
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