The sustainable fashion minor emphasizes sustainable and inclusive approaches to textiles and apparel. The curriculum centers on circular design philosophies for clothing the body and promotes ethical approaches to research, ideation, and production.
Students in our program:
- Develop a critical understanding of materials at every stage of the process from fiber to final product.
- Engage in maker-driven courses that fuse traditional textile processes with current technologies and digital fabrication.
- Understand the social, economic, and cultural implications of the fashion system, and develop work that is inclusive of people marginalized from the dominant fashion discourse.
- Learn to collaborate and effectively communicate research and design ideas in professional settings and public-facing exhibitions of work.
- Gain entrepreneurial training to develop socially responsible brands or pursue existing opportunities in the industry.
Our faculty are design professionals and educators who foster meaningful connections to the fashion and entertainment industries. Oregon has a long history of apparel manufacturing, with major heritage brands like Pendleton, Dehen, and Jantzen based here for over 100 years. Columbia Sportswear, Nike, adidas, Under Armour, and Icebreaker represent large athletic and outdoor apparel corporations with Portland headquarters. Students engage with community partners through field trips, workshops, and lecture series.
The sustainable fashion minor will pair well with many majors at PSU including Theater Arts, Art & Design, Art Practice, and majors in the school of business, especially if you're interested in working for apparel companies like Columbia Sportswear, Nike, adidas, Under Armour or On Running.
Students who minor in sustainable fashion go on to careers as:
- Fashion Designers
- Patternmakers
- Textile/Print Designers
- Costume Designers
- Stylists
- Wardrobe Supervisors