Boom in sustainable fashion market increases job opportunities

The fashion industry is slowly inching toward sustainable fashion to reduce wastage and pollution.In the post-Covid phase, several brands such as H&M and Zara have adopted sustainable supply chain practices from the manufacturing of fibre to retailing to fill our closets with clothes that enjoy a healthy equation with the environment.

For maintaining carbon-neutrality in fashion wearables, course mandates in this regard have been adopted in several fashion designing institutes. The move will build a holistic understanding of the conception of fashion apparel and the way it is produced, among budding designers.
Relook at green modules

A good understanding of sustainable fashion is a must for students of fashion designing as this will enable them to execute the vision of sustainable design practice. Amandeep Singh Grover, director, NIFT,Panchkula, says, “Students will take leadership positions in the future fashion industry. It is a must for them to understand that sustainability is an essential part of the fashion industry at every level. They should be clear about their roles in terms of reviewing product life cycle, practical alternatives, design concepts, and eco-friendly design printing techniques.”

Mentioning the need for sustainable innovation in fashion designing courses as a response to the problem of extensive resource depletion caused by the textiles sector, Risha Roy, assistant professor, Anant National University says, “Focus on the sustainability factor narrative in the course module is the need of the hour. It will prepare designers to bridge the ecological gap by empowering them with the right tools to engage with the challenges of the future.”

Novel dimensions of learning

To keep pace with the latest industry trend, college assignments and projects are designed to demonstrate the complex nature of sustainability and help students in informed decision-making. V Bhanu Rekha, head, School of Fashion Technology, KCG College of Technology, Chennai says, “Students are trained in both traditional handmade techniques of fabric printing and technologies which help in mechanizing and mass manufacturing. Besides this, they learn methods of identifying eco-friendly raw materials and processes to develop and engineer sustainable fashion products. They are also given hands-on experience on rapid prototyping technologies like 3D printing with which highly customizable products can be developed with zero waste.”

“Process to manufacture handmade Khadi fabric, which is less power consuming and a very good job potential space for the cottage industry, is also taught to students,” Rekha adds.

Emphasising that sustainability is at the core of Design,saysAmit Kumar Singh, joint-director, Management and Technology departments of NIFT Delhi says,“ In our futuristic pedagogy approach to fashion production consumption, students work on diverse areas like waste management, natural dyeing, zero waste pattern making, and sustainable design innovation. They also study major points of international policies on carbon/plastic credits and carbon footprints. For now, these have been voluntary but soon it may be mandatory.”

Jobs in a new avatar

Being sensitive to the market demand and acquiring required domain specializations shall increase the acceptance of students in the job market. “We will need more Fashion Technologists shortly as it’s an emerging area. Skill intensive and value-added jobs, supported by technology for good quality and improved productivity will be in demand in the future,” says Rekha.

Dalal believes that people are now more aware of the detrimental environmental effects of synthetic fibers such as polyester, rayon, and nylon and this will create new job roles for students. She says, “Companies are looking for textile chemists and bioengineers to produce more sustainable materials. To manage the resale and rental influences on the fashion industry, a sustainability manager is a new and demanding portfolio that companies are now looking for.”

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