Everything you need to know about The Wardrobe Crisis Academy

Available online and accessible globally from Thursday 20th May, Sustainable Fashion 101 is the first course up for grabs and sees the former VOGUE Sustainability Editor in the role of instructor. Created together with Dutch sustainable materials company Arch & Hook and the Australian Fashion Council, the six-week introductory course has been thoughtfully designed to tackle big themes and cover the issues driving sustainable and ethical fashion today – think nature, materials, waste, workers’ rights and circularity. It’ll provide all those signing up with the tools to start taking positive action, or to step up their game and promote real, meaningful change.

So, how did the idea for the academy come about? “It’s an extension of the podcast and was born out of feedback from listeners over the past four years,” explains Press. “They’re telling us that they want to upskill on sustainable fashion outside of full-time study or expensive professional development courses,” she continues, emphasising that acting like a university isn’t a part of the plan. Instead, there’s a real focus on putting something out into the world that’s not only educational, but also joyfully creative and highly original. “There are some great open-source MOOCs but they tend to focus on designers. What about everyone else? The onus has been on people to basically D.I.Y. – and that can be intimidating. Who’s got the time do all the research themselves and figure out what’s important and relevant, and what’s a trusted source? Wardrobe Crisis Academy does that for you.”

Along with guided study, audio presentations and weekly videos, students can expect stimulating journal prompts, special guest lecturers, live community calls, quizzes, workshops and even meditations, led by a fashion academic who doubles as a yoga and meditation teacher.  “It’s all about mindfulness and connection,” says Press, when asked about the inclusion of the latter.

A sneak preview of the curriculum revealed that it (rather wonderfully) starts by gauging each individual’s interests, hopes and dreams, and that the mixed-media format is the result of endlessly tried, trialled and tested ways to present exercises to a beat that’s never dry or boring. “The magic is in how we do it,” enthuses Press, highlighting that over 40 lessons “with a lovely rhythm” cost the equivalent of the price of a night out. Sold. 

Sustainable Fashion 101 is available for presale now from $55 USD/ €45.
Find all the course details at http://www.thewardrobecrisis.com