From Inception to Reflection: How a Fast Fashion Interdisciplinary Unit Captivates Students and Teachers Alike
Quantitative and qualitative observations of fashion consumers was the focus of a recent data collection event for students of the Inter-community School of Zürich.
On a warm September day, shoppers busily traverse the ultra high-end shops on what’s regarded as the most expensive street in the world which happens to be located in Zürich, Switzerland. But also seen on Bahnhofstrasse is something a little less common. Teams of observant teens aren’t shopping – they’re gathering data and recording qualitative observations for a progressive educational experience.
Just as the world of fashion is ever changing, there is plenty of capacity for innovation in the demanding realm of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. In his role as Head of Design at the Inter-community School of Zürich, Daniel Bush leverages his years of experience in teaching fashion industry concepts as he and Jonathan Cotterill, Head of Theory of Knowledge and a teacher of English Literature, collaborate on an Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU) that is enjoying unbridled success.
“When I taught ‘fashion’ in the UK, we’d get 18 girls and maybe one boy in a classroom,” recalls Daniel. In stark contrast, the IDU at the heart of the Design course is now attracting much wider interest and is taking the student experience to new levels of insight, creativity and reflection.
The IDU draws attention to the pressing issue of fast fashion, which may be defined as the rapid production of inexpensive clothing to meet the latest trends, often at the expense of environmental and labor standards.
Partnership for Effective IDU Development
Daniel credits much of the success of this educational experience to the partnership between his ICS Zürich team and Aaron Moniz of Inspire Citizens.
An interdisciplinary unit with a fast fashion focus is what brought ICS Zürich teacher Daniel Bush and his students to Bahnhofstrasse - reputed to be the most expensive street in the world - in order to gather data.
“We had Aaron sit in with me and Jonathan,” explains Daniel, “and in an hour-and-a-half we walked out with a completed statement of inquiry.” This key guiding concept is, of course, at the heart of a well-designed unit of study in the MYP universe.
For Daniel, the fast fashion IDU spans 17 full weeks and offers a generous range of educational outcomes. While the intersection with English Literature is only a few weeks in duration, the validity of connecting the two courses was strengthened by Aaron’s involvement at the planning stage. “Without the help of Inspire Citizens,” says Daniel, “this would have turned out much differently. They have helped us to make important links between the two subject areas.”
From the outset, the IDU was designed to meet numerous assessment targets of Design and several assessment targets in English by incorporating action components for students that broadly include:
Introductory analysis of their own fashion consumption patterns
Opening reactions, reflections and research planning
Consideration of social and economic interrelationships
Creative fashion design opportunities
Intra-community exhibition opportunities
Written statements and justifications, plus further reflections
While apologizing for using an overtaxed descriptor, Daniel says that the term “authentic” might be the very best way of framing the unit. “We’re addressing a real-world issue,” he explains, with traction being quickly gained because “the issue of fast fashion affects most students quite directly.”
Developing a Service Component for Greater Impact
“We made a decision to really tie service as action into this IDU,” says Daniel. The students do a clothing swap in tandem with the major end-of-unit event. Daniel explains that “students look through their wardrobes for clothes that are brand new with tags or nearly new. These could even be items that have been gifted to them that they perhaps didn’t like or didn’t fit properly.”
Students receive shopping credits for their donations and guests can buy clothing vouchers on the evening of the event. Financial proceeds have an important impact as they are passed along through the school’s Round Square chapter. Round Square maintains partnerships with several locally-based charities, allowing the clothing swap to have significance beyond the immediate educational outcomes. “Students also write reflections on the event and on the process,” says Daniel.
In addition to building awareness and empathy through their learning, Daniel explains how students were absolutely energized by their opportunity to develop a personal connection to fashion industry workers by embarking on a design challenge. From the sketchbook to the sewing machine and to the catwalk, every student brought a uniquely-designed item to life.
As a culmination of the unit, students hosted an all-out fashion show in which each individual wore their item to the applause of their peers and parents. Family members could watch their children boldly sharing their self-designed garment while scanning a student-specific QR code from a large display to explore a body of work from the semester.
Daniel reflects on one particular moment of pride when a formerly reluctant student walked down the runway wearing a shirt of his own rather challenging design. At the outset of the unit there had been some reticence on the part of the student, but the ideals of the broader plan began to work their magic as the learning experiences unfolded. “Ultimately, he was highly committed,” says Daniel. “His design required a lot of devotion. You could see the love that he put into every stitch.”
While a successful unit might suggest that a “rinse and repeat” is in order for next year, Daniel and Jonathan are already in conversation with Aaron about improvements. “In the Design department, we make changes every year,” Daniel explains. “We have the philosophy that if we are going to teach projects as an iterative process then we need to treat our own planning in the same way.”
Creating a Blueprint for Meaningful Learning
The success of the fast fashion IDU serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that meaningful, real-world learning can have on students. By integrating disciplines, fostering creativity, and encouraging critical reflection, Daniel, Jonathan, and Aaron have created a blueprint for interdisciplinary units that resonate with students on multiple levels. As they refine and improve upon this foundation, they continue to empower students to engage deeply with the world around them, preparing them to be thoughtful and informed global citizens.