Responsible and Accessible Fashion
Research group coordinators: Edwin Phiri and Stine Hedegaard
Projects
Uncovering stigmas towards the consumption of second-hand clothes and potential implications for the transition to a circular system
The project evidences the urgency to address ecological challenges and highlights the tension existing between the promotion of sustainability practices in fashion sustainability and the obstacles of incorporating these in the fashion system today. Clothing reuse, particularly, second-hand clothing consumption, is offered as a viable short-term alternative and scenario for ecological impact reduction. Activities include a paper presentation at the International Foundation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI) 2024 Conference, at EWHA University, Seoul, South Korea, and forms part of an on-going research project assessing consumer perspectives regarding second-hand clothing and accessories consumption
Project Lead
Project Researchers
Towards transformative sustainable fashion education: The Fashion Business School’s approach
This project explores how transformative sustainable pedagogies are being implemented in the Fashion Business School (FBS) at London College of Fashion. Specifically, providing an understanding of how sustainability is embedded in the teaching and learning experience of fashion business students. This research took a multiple case study approach to showcase the transformative nature of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiatives to inform future thinking in teaching and learning practices for fashion sustainability education. This project was presented at the Global Fashion Conference, 2023 and has been published in peer-reviewed book, Fashion for the Common Good.
Project Lead
Project Researchers
Broadening the conversation on inclusive retailing: Exploring the fashion in-store retail experience of parents with autistic children
The project explores the important area of inclusion and fashion retail, particularly through the lens of hidden disabilities and autism. In the UK around 700,000 individuals are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). When family members are included, roughly 2.8 million people are affected by autism daily. Through this project we aim to inform inclusive retail practices, by gaining a better understanding of the servicescape-related fashion retail experience of parents and their autistic children. This project has been published in peer-reviewed book, Pioneering New Perspectives in the Fashion Industry: Disruption. Diversity and Sustainable Innovation. This project is part of on-going investigation into inclusive fashion retail practices.
Project Lead
Project Researchers
Joanne Shin
Inclusive retail playbook: Strategies for enhancing disability access and inclusion
This collaborative project explores marketing strategies undertaken by UK fashion retailers to establish whether they meet the needs of disabled consumers while shopping for fashion products and services. The research is framed around the necessity to understand and improve the intersection of customer service and accessibility from the perspective of disabled customers. The overarching goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of the barriers that impede disabled customers and propose viable solutions through the implementation of an ‘Inclusive Retail Playbook’ to provide practical strategies for fashion retail. This project is part of an ongoing project on inclusive fashion retailing and marketing. Activities include conference presentation and onward peer-reviewed journal publications.