Assessing the Impact of Sustainability Initiatives on Fashion Students’ Practices and Attitudes

Author Information

Hiu Cheng, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Abstract

Embedding sustainability into fashion design curricula is well-established in Western countries, but it remains relatively new in Asia. Hong Kong fashion students currently lack comprehensive skills and knowledge in sustainability. Additionally, there is limited literature addressing the effectiveness and impact of sustainability projects specifically for students in Asia and Hong Kong. This research evaluates how a student project could enhance students’ understanding of sustainability and investigates how the project impacts the practices and attitudes toward sustainability. It helps structure the research and provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of sustainability workshops on fashion students. A questionnaire survey has been undertaken among all students participating in the project to assess if the student project has enhanced their understanding of sustainability, and to investigate the impacts of the project on the practices and attitudes of sustainability. Following the survey, one-on-one semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather more in-depth data. By participating in the student project, samplers agree that they have gained sustainability-related knowledge from various aspects. The project generated positive impacts, including increased awareness of sustainability and changes in consumer behavior toward more sustainable practices. They believe that embracing sustainability can contribute to creating a better world. This research is conducted on a small scale, focusing on students from a single tertiary institution. However, the findings would assist educators in refining project approaches and content to enhance overall effectiveness and outcomes of sustainability-related projects in the future.

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