Design the Future of the Fashion Business. Master the challenges facing the fashion industry in today's complex and evolving landscape

4.7

stars

286 ratings

Keanan Duffty

7,834 already enrolled

Offered By

Transforming the Fashion Business SpecializationParsons School of Design, The New School

What you will learn

How to develop a fashion business model that incorporates sustainability, experiential methods, collaborations, and serves underrepresented groups.
How to integrate systems thinking to advance fashion business models
Ability to articulate the predominant design techniques within the fashion system
How to develop a holistic product lifecycle

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization

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In this specialization, you will analyze the fashion business and how it must evolve into a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable manifestation of itself. You’ll explore the “slow fashion” movement, the historical underpinnings of the current fashion system, and imperatives for a more holistic, sustainable future. You’ll look at the design process from the perspective of analytical and statistical trend forecasting and how to bring new strategies and technologies into your design approach, all while maintaining an awareness of social movements and cultural shifts. And finally, you’ll learn how fashion retail can create memorable, immersive, and innovative experiences that help you and your brand stay relevant in an age of increasing competition and shifting consumer models. The courses in this specialization bring together a dynamic group of Parsons faculty and leading industry experts who will share their real world experiences and guide you through the knowledge you need to advance your career.

Applied Learning Project

Each course in this specialization is capped with an immersive project where you’ll turn your passion to become a future business leader into a proposed strategy for addressing the challenges in today’s fashion industry.

For each project, you will be expected to prepare and present a plan for how you would leverage innovations in technology, design, and retail channels in order to solve a critical issue in the current fashion system.

By the end of the specialization, you will be able to:

• Research and innovate a strategy for a holistic approach to fashion design.

• Develop a fashion brand strategy that is inclusive and relevant to today's consumer and encompasses best practices for sustainability.

• Design a contemporary retailing strategy that considers customer experience, omnichannel engagement, operational logistics, and merchandising.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Intermediate Level

Approximately 3 months to complete

Suggested pace of 3 hours/week

English

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible Schedule

Set and maintain flexible deadlines.

Intermediate Level

Approximately 3 months to complete

Suggested pace of 3 hours/week

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

How the Specialization Works

Take Courses

A Coursera Specialization is a series of courses that helps you master a skill. To begin, enroll in the Specialization directly, or review its courses and choose the one you'd like to start with. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. It’s okay to complete just one course — you can pause your learning or end your subscription at any time. Visit your learner dashboard to track your course enrollments and your progress.

Hands-on Project

Every Specialization includes a hands-on project. You'll need to successfully finish the project(s) to complete the Specialization and earn your certificate. If the Specialization includes a separate course for the hands-on project, you'll need to finish each of the other courses before you can start it.

Earn a Certificate

When you finish every course and complete the hands-on project, you'll earn a Certificate that you can share with prospective employers and your professional network.

There are 3 Courses in this Specialization

Course1

Course 1

Fashion Systems

4.7

stars

143 ratings

The fashion business has grown from the storied Parisian houses of the early 20th century into a global phenomenon. It is highly complex, multi-faceted, and undergoing reinvention. In this course, you will learn about long-standing factors that impact the existing fashion system such as consumption, inclusion, and labor. You’ll explore the “slow fashion” movement, look at holistic and human-centric product development strategies, and build a brand story with core values at its heart. Finally, you’ll consider sustainability and environmental responsibility throughout the fashion design and production processes.

Course2

Course 2

Fashion Design

4.6

stars

156 ratings

Fashion design is about looking to the future to innovate for today, but it is important to understand the foundation of the design process. In this course, you will learn about technological developments in fashion design, 3D and digital printing, and artisanal design and craftsmanship. You’ll explore building your brand through design aesthetics, materials, silhouettes and fit. You’ll discover the importance of collaboration with other designers and how new modes of thinking and inspiration are integral to the design process. Finally, you’ll examine the future of fashion forecasting, and how the observation of trends, social movements, politics, environmentalism, and pop culture are crucial to building your brand strategy.

Course3

Course 3

Fashion Retail Transformation

4.7

stars

64 ratings

In this course, Parsons faculty and industry experts dive deep into the transformation of fashion retail. You’ll explore the fusion of retail and entertainment and the increasing importance of omnichannel client relationships. Through an examination of disruptive retail innovations, such as on-demand delivery and virtual reality, you’ll learn how industry leaders are keeping up with customer expectations. You’ll look at e-commerce strategies through the lens of listening to and applying customer feedback and how brands stay relevant in the direct-to-consumer marketplace. Finally, you’ll consider the post-COVID consumer and how e-commerce and remote clienteling can be leveraged within the fashion business to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Instructor

Keanan Duffty

Parsons Faculty

Parsons School of Design

22,176 Learners

3 Courses

Offered by

Parsons School of Design, The New School

For more than a century, Parsons School of Design has been inspired by the transformative potential of design. Today, the school’s groundbreaking academic programs carry forward that mission, making Parsons the number one design school in the U.S. and among the top three globally. At the heart of a comprehensive university — The New School — Parsons draws on a range of academic fields to deliver a uniquely interdisciplinary education enriched by the resources of its home in New York City and branch campus in Paris. Here, the next generation of creative leaders engage in real-world learning and develop as critical thinkers and makers grappling with the pressing issues of our time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the refund policy?
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Can I just enroll in a single course?
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Can I take the course for free?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.
Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
How long does it take to complete the Specialization?
Time to completion will vary based on your schedule and individual pace. Most learners are able to complete the Specialization in 3-6 months.
What background knowledge is necessary?
This course is open to all who are interested in learning about the fashion business. Previous experience in fashion or in a creative field is recommended, but not required.
Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?
Although you can take the courses in this Specialization in any order, we do recommend you follow the sequence suggested -- 1) Fashion Systems, 2) Fashion Design, and 3) Fashion Retail Transformation -- especially if you are new to the fashion industry.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?
Participation in this online specialization is not for credit and does not constitute enrollment at the University. The certificate of completion does not confer a University grade, course credit or degree.
What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?
By the end of the specialization, you will be able to 1) Research and innovate a strategy for a holistic approach to fashion design; 2) Develop a fashion brand strategy that is inclusive and relevant to today's consumer, and encompasses best practices for sustainability; 3) Design a contemporary retailing strategy that considers customer experience, omni-channel engagement, operational logistics, and merchandising.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Transforming the Fashion Business Specialization

What you will learn

Skills you will gain

About this Specialization

Applied Learning Project