The School of Design at the University of Leeds developed an innovative partnership with Inditex, the multinational clothing company known for iconic brands like Zara, Pull & Bear and Bershka. This collaboration combines innovation and technology, industry practices and academic expertise to create a bespoke programme for Inditex employees.
The School of Design is world-renowned for its design and sustainable textiles expertise. It is home to a leading academic team and is deeply committed to improving sustainability strategies. In line with this commitment, the school is dedicated to sharing its knowledge through industry partnerships. These partnerships aim to educate and empower the fashion industry to address the challenges of climate change.
Inditex has dedicated its efforts to improving its knowledge and processes to reduce their impact on the environment. Recognising the vital role of education in achieving this goal, Inditex joined forces with the School of Design in 2021 to establish the Sustainable Fashion School. This ambitious initiative aims to educate 1,500 employees globally, deepening their understanding of textile manufacturing and sustainability principles to help them create more effective practices.
The Sustainable Fashion School (SFS)
The Sustainable Fashion School offers an accredited online course for Inditex’s commercial teams. It provides learners with the knowledge and insight to make informed decisions and create more sustainable products. The course explores various sustainability considerations, including buying materials, manufacturing yarns and fabrics, dyeing and printing methods, choosing finishes and managing the product’s end-of-life or, ideally, giving new life to a product.
The University of Leeds collaborated closely with Inditex to ensure the course was relevant and highly industry-focused. Inditex’s products are interwoven as real-world examples throughout the modules, combining theory and practical applications.
The impact of our activities is important to us, and working closely with industry helps us to create impact. In close collaboration with Inditex, we created a bespoke programme which delivered fundamental concepts employing appropriate pedagogies for digital delivery and contextualised the learning with Inditex/commercially relevant examples throughout the course.
Course Impact
The impact of the Sustainable Fashion School extends beyond the classroom, providing commercial teams globally with detailed practical knowledge of sustainable garment manufacturing. The course encourages participants to consider how choices throughout the design and production phases impact the physical properties of the final product and its environmental impact. With this knowledge, the aim is to infuse sustainability throughout Inditex’s supply chain and equip teams to tackle the fashion industry’s sustainability challenges more effectively.
The course was delivered through various mediums to ensure the most engaging learning environment. It featured curated educational videos from leading academics, written materials, knowledge assessments, quizzes and webinars. This multifaceted approach ensured an accessible and rich learning experience.
The first round of participants completed the course last year, with Inditex’s students saying:
As a fashion designer, it made me more aware of all the processes and the waste that our decisions can cause. I will definitely be more conscious about how to construct a garment and what kind of finishings I request. It helped me to open my eyes at work but as a consumer as well.
In 2024, the School of Design launched the School of Design Professional Learning to build on this success and deepen industry collaboration. School of Design Professional Learning continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the partnership with Inditex, expanding the Sustainable Fashion School with new modules. Through this ongoing collaboration, the School of Design Professional Learning aims to equip Inditex employees with the skills, knowledge and innovative thinking necessary to drive sustainable transformation.