About the Course
Week 1: What is Sustainability?
Principles of sustainability and systems thinking
Environmental and social justice
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN
Interlinkages between fashion and other industries
Week 2: Sustainable Decision-Making in Fashion
Identifying sustainability in the supply chain
Greenwashing vs transparency
Introduction to circularity
Case study: Two brands
Downloadable essay prompt + discussion
Week 3: Communication for Change
Role of communication in sustainability
Creating campaigns, graphics, and short videos
How to build sustainable brand identity and collateral
Week 4: Reflection & Peer Presentation
Peer review and feedback
Final discussion
Presentation of sustainable fashion ideas
Exploring contributions to green and blue economies
Week 5: Designing for the Planet
Environmental racism in fashion
Personal responsibility & design ethics
Sustainable practices in fashion production
Understanding and decoding carbon footprint
Week 6: Leadership & Policy
Overview of fashion-related sustainability policies
Building regenerative supply chains
Policy gaps and design-led change
Sustainable business model frameworks
Week 7: Brand Strategy & Positioning
Case Study 1: Ready-to-Wear brand
Case Study 2: Artisanal/Courtyard model
Design philosophy, branding, and customer profiles
Strategic marketing & competitive positioning
Week 8: Mentorship & Planning
One-on-one or group mentorship
Peer reviews of brand or career strategy
Business plan feedback
Final reflection and pathway forward
Your Instructor
Runa Ray
Runa Ray is a Fashion Environmentalist and interdisciplinary designer who uses fashion to advocate for policy change and educate on sustainability. Her work with the United Nations and IUCN integrates nature-based solutions and design intelligence to address climate change and environmental justice.
Specializing in algae-based textiles, circularity, and the revival of indigenous techniques, she transforms waste into fashion while fostering collaborations across industries. As an advocate for CO2 reduction and sustainable practices, Runa guides SMEs in creating impact-driven solutions for the future of fashion.
A featured speaker at the United Nations and columnist for leading platforms like the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Connect4Climate at the World Bank, she combines her knowledge with exhibitions that have gained global recognition. She also hosts 'Fashion Stories' on iHeartRadio, highlighting women change-makers in fashion from the Global South Asian community.
Explore her book, 'Fashion for Social and Environmental Justice', to learn more about her mission to unite fashion with activism.