The fashion industry is one of the largest and most complex industries in the world, encompassing a multitude of players including designers, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and consumers. However, in recent years, the industry has faced several challenges that affect its growth and sustainability. Some of the most critical challenges facing the fashion industry are the talent deficit, disregard for sustainability practices, unnecessary textile waste, changing desires (AR, fashion NFTs, etc.), supply chain bottlenecks, rising returns, and increasing mistrust.
The challenges of the fashion industry can only be solved with the help of trained staff who are equipped with adequate competencies. This is where the GIF Short Learning Programme takes effect. It is aimed at offering managers and experts in the field of fashion/textile industries, designing and managing industrial processes, the trainer community, and, more broadly, researchers and academics, a clear framework for understanding and identifying training needs and for shaping training programmes and strategies for continuous professional development.
The GIF short learning programme consists of three (3) Modules composed of ten (10) Units. The core element of each unit consists of video lectures linked with activities for learning by doing, potentially including self-graded finger exercises, assignments, simulations, and case studies.
Module I: New regulations have been introduced to the fashion and textiles industry to ensure that products marketed as sustainable are genuinely environmentally friendly. This module aims to provide learners with an understanding of these regulations and the measures that companies can take to ensure that their products are truly sustainable.
Module II: This module aims to familiarise students with the environmental, societal, and economic impacts of textile production. It explores mitigation strategies through sustainable sourcing, eco-friendly textiles, and the integration of circular business models. The module also delves into innovations in sustainable textiles, showcasing their role in developing more environmentally friendly and innovative products, thereby advancing the transition towards a circular economy.
Module III: The aim of this module is to inform the learner about the critical role that the design stage plays in the fashion and textile supply chain by influencing the environmental and social impact of products. By adopting sustainable and circular design practices, designers can contribute to a more sustainable and circular fashion industry.