Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training
Join the 8-week course for a digestible overview of the fashion industry and its impact across Chicagoland. Get resources, tools, & support to make a difference!
Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training
The Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training is an 8-week course that breaks down the harmful impact of the fashion industry at a local level, while helping attendees understand how to approach making a change and how they can leverage their interests, lifestyle, and different abilities. Each week a guest speaker will join the training to share their expertise, build community, and spotlight the work they’re doing — plus how attendees can get involved. Copies of weekly lessons and in-class resources are provided to attendees for future reference.
The program is dedicated to a collaborative learning environment, so at the conclusion of the course, participants will work together on a simple, fun, and highly impactful final cohort project.
Plus, an optional weekly social hour is available to both class options for those who want to mingle and build deeper community.
Attendees are not required to have any fashion or sustainability knowledge. All levels are welcome to participate and will benefit from this.
Participants Receive:
- Certification of completion
- Updated, local, and relevant information on the industry
- Expanded community and professional relationships
- Access to the free community forum
- Access to the dashboard with bonus resources
- The opportunity to develop unlimited sustainable fashion projects upon training completion
- Free ticket to the September 2026 sustainable fashion show
Why the program exists
While fashion is a wonderful outlet for creativity and expression, the industry has a dark side.
In Chicago alone, textile waste contributes to 4.6% of the local waste system and roughly 874,000 tons of clothing end up in Illinois landfills each year.
That’s equivalent to a pile the size of nearly 4 full-sized Willis/Sears Towers (Chicago skyscraper).
Despite the shocking negative impact, this is a solvable issue and why this program exists. The Sustainable Fashion Leadership Training is here to help you make a lasting positive impact in our communities.
Eligibility: who can join?
Anyone 18 years and older who is interested in learning more about sustainable fashion and being a part of the solution is encouraged and welcome to join. There is no fashion or sustainability knowledge or experience needed. All levels are welcome to participate.
While the information within this course is designed with a Chicago focus. However, anyone in the State and around the Country is welcome to join the Leadership Training.
Registration Deadline: April 27, 2026
Questions?
Please email the team, info[@]sfwchicago.com with the subject line “Question: Sustainable Fashion LT”