Bocconi University
Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program
Incorporate sustainability practices into your operations and marketing strategies to establish a resilient, relevant and competitive brand.
Start date
14 May 2025
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Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
6–8 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Program overview
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The fashion industry is known for its fast-paced trend cycles, often at the expense of low-income factory workers and the environment. However, evolving consumer and investor sentiment and events that have exposed the impact of poor production practices have spurred conscious buyers to demand greater transparency from brands about their supply chains. Therefore, it has become increasingly critical for fashion organizations, from fast fashion to luxury brands, to adopt more sustainable business models.
The Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program comprehensively explores the fashion industry's potential to build purpose-driven and sustainable brands. The program is led by SDA Bocconi School of Management's expert faculty – who you’ll be able to meet with in a set of live sessions – and introduces holistic and proactive sustainability practices based on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) criteria. You’ll examine the structure and challenges of the fashion supply chain, highlighting the need for transparency. Real-world, global case studies will also illustrate how brands can leverage their narrative to meet consumer demands for sustainability. You’ll also have the chance to interact with peers and faculty during optional live sessions.
Is this program for you?
This program is essential for business leaders and managers who want to create a sustainable fashion brand. The six-week program provides strategic insights and analytical tools to integrate sustainability into every aspect of your organization. As a marketing or brand professional, the program equips you with the skills to develop a strong brand strategy and narrative that communicates your organization's sustainability efforts to diverse stakeholders. Additionally, investors and consultants working in the fashion and luxury sectors and individuals passionate about social and environmental issues can benefit from the program.
Successful completion of the SDA Bocconi Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program allows participants to apply for the Executive Master in Luxury Management (EMiLUX). The Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program certificate will count toward a segment of the Executive Master. Upon successful admission to the Executive Master, participants will be entitled to receive a discount of €3,000.
Note: Application to the Executive Master in Luxury Management is required and the assessments remain mandatory.
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SDA Bocconi is one of the few elite business schools to have garnered the ‘triple crown’ of the world’s most prestigious international accreditations (AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS). It is also the only Italian institution to feature in all the major global business school rankings, including those of the Financial Times, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek and The Economist.*
Program overview
Course introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
The fashion industry is known for its fast-paced trend cycles, often at the expense of low-income factory workers and the environment. However, evolving consumer and investor sentiment and events that have exposed the impact of poor production practices have spurred conscious buyers to demand greater transparency from brands about their supply chains. Therefore, it has become increasingly critical for fashion organizations, from fast fashion to luxury brands, to adopt more sustainable business models.
The Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program comprehensively explores the fashion industry's potential to build purpose-driven and sustainable brands. The program is led by SDA Bocconi School of Management's expert faculty – who you’ll be able to meet with in a set of live sessions – and introduces holistic and proactive sustainability practices based on Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) criteria. You’ll examine the structure and challenges of the fashion supply chain, highlighting the need for transparency. Real-world, global case studies will also illustrate how brands can leverage their narrative to meet consumer demands for sustainability. You’ll also have the chance to interact with peers and faculty during optional live sessions.
Is this program for you?
This program is essential for business leaders and managers who want to create a sustainable fashion brand. The six-week program provides strategic insights and analytical tools to integrate sustainability into every aspect of your organization. As a marketing or brand professional, the program equips you with the skills to develop a strong brand strategy and narrative that communicates your organization's sustainability efforts to diverse stakeholders. Additionally, investors and consultants working in the fashion and luxury sectors and individuals passionate about social and environmental issues can benefit from the program.
Successful completion of the SDA Bocconi Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program allows participants to apply for the Executive Master in Luxury Management (EMiLUX). The Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program certificate will count toward a segment of the Executive Master. Upon successful admission to the Executive Master, participants will be entitled to receive a discount of €3,000.
Note: Application to the Executive Master in Luxury Management is required and the assessments remain mandatory.
SDA Bocconi is one of the few elite business schools to have garnered the ‘triple crown’ of the world’s most prestigious international accreditations (AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS). It is also the only Italian institution to feature in all the major global business school rankings, including those of the Financial Times, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek and The Economist.*
What will set you apart
A holistic understanding of the growing business case for sustainability in the fashion industry.
Insight into business model theory and the trade-offs of different business models.
The ability to move your brand from promise to purpose through a people-centric approach.
An understanding of the supply chain’s role in sustainable fashion and global metrics for reporting on sustainability, and tools to create a personalized, engaging narrative that communicates your brand’s sustainability transformation, step by step.
Unlimited access to edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Program curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Setting the scene for the new thinking about sustainability
Module 2
Brand-led sustainability
Module 3
A business model approach to sustainability
Module 4
The supply chain decoded
Module 5
Building and reporting stakeholder value
Module 6
Building a branded narrative in sustainability
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What past students
think
Lucy Hunt
Luxury Marketing Director, Freelance
“The SDA Bocconi Sustainable Fashion: Brand and Business Strategy Program had a wealth of content that I found extremely insightful, interesting and relevant to my career within the luxury goods industry. The up-to-date case studies really helped to explain the importance of sustainability and why it's so important for future businesses to succeed. I enjoyed the online [learning] experience as I could access information and carry out learning in my own time. I liked the variety of different mediums e.g. videos, notes, live lessons, interviews with industry specialists and discussion forums. I now have a greater understanding of sustainability and what it means to the businesses of tomorrow. I have learned how to apply certain frameworks to ascertain whether a business is genuine in its approach to sustainability, and I now know the different criteria that can be applied when setting up an internal ESG framework. Most importantly for me as a marketing director, was learning how sustainable supply chains can assist in defining a brand’s narrative in a positive way. It was nice to meet participants from different industries and to discuss topics from different angles and experiences. Online support was very responsive and solutions-driven. I found the team very helpful.”
Program Director
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Stefania Saviolo
Lecturer of Strategy, Department of Management and Technology, Bocconi University and SDA Bocconi
About the certificate
Learn about the increasing business need to cultivate sustainable brands and earn an official certificate of completion from SDA Bocconi School of Management.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with your digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the program handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the program.
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Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
