ABSTRACT
The global fashion industry’s production and consumption are highly unsustainable. The industry and consumers generate large volumes of textile waste which typically end up in landfills, incinerators, and sometimes water bodies, causing massive environmental pollution. The industry’s challenge is to contribute practically to attaining net zero in its production and consumption. Additionally, higher education institutions are urged to fully integrate sustainability principles and ethos into their curricula in teaching new competencies, research, and community engagement. More importantly, institutions should teach design students about sustainability in their formative years. This chapter explores Dr Sophia Njeru’s sustainable fashion safari from 2000 to date. Safari is a Kiswahili word for journey, expedition, or adventure. The safari includes sustainable fashion research, teaching, and practice. The safari has opened many opportunities for acquiring and advancing her knowledge and skills regarding sustainability theories, models, research methods, pedagogy, publishing, grant writing, and collaborative research. Fulfilment emanates from knowing that she is participating in the global discourse about sustainable fashion and in creating a pool of future fashion design professionals who are responsive and empathetic. The author is open to more engagements and collaborations on sustainable fashion.
