B4944 - GLOBAL FASHION.

Learning outcomes

The Global Fashion Course investigates the material and immaterial dimensions of fashion as a major cultural industry that influences individual and social identity on a global scale. While controversial and much debated as a concept, the globalisation of dress and fashion indicates an inseparable link between sartorial practice and cultural significance, as demonstrated in colonial and post colonial practices, in the definition of traditional costumes as opposed to modern fashion, in the emerging aesthetic codes of young global designers, and in the fluid choices of consumers worldwide.

Course contents

In recent years, ongoing social and cultural transformations have sparked widespread debate concerning the role of fashion, prompting the fashion system to adopt a more critical approach to its global dynamics.
This course aims to explore the theme of cultural representation within the fashion industry, with particular attention to intercultural dynamics and trans-local sociocultural exchanges that shape brand collections. Special emphasis will be placed on the need to cultivate greater awareness of established practices, which often result in the superficial adoption of stylistic elements from cultures perceived as "other"—as in the case of cultural appropriation.

The objective is to equip students with the conceptual tools necessary to understand the complex intersections between fashion and culture, enriching class sessions with meaningful debate and critical reflection. The course therefore seeks to investigate cultural sensitivity in the context of global fashion, fostering a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind appropriation and other unreflective practices within contemporary fashion discourse.

Students will learn to map creative trends within the fashion sector, supported by theoretical and analytical sources, facilitating discussions on key topics such as decolonization, inclusion, and the promotion of more respectful attitudes toward people and cultures. The course will also encourage a move beyond the binary between “tradition” and “fashion,” recognizing their coexistence and interconnection in the global landscape.

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Understand the relationships between fashion, culture, and society from a global perspective.

• Identify and analyze practices of cultural appropriation and intercultural sensitivity.

• Recognize and discuss creative trends and sociocultural dynamics within the fashion system.

• Develop critical reflections on inclusion and decolonization through the lens of fashion.

Readings/Bibliography

The following text is recommended reading:

Eicher, J. B., & Evenson, S. L. (2014). The Visible Self: Global Perspectives on Dress, Culture and Society. United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Academic.

At the end of each session, the instructor will provide a bibliography of reference readings related to the topics and case studies discussed in class. The slides prepared by the instructor—available on the Virtuale platform—and all the information contained therein form an essential part of the course bibliography.

Preparation for the written exam must be based on the following texts:

1. Kawamura, Y., & de Jong, J. M. (2022). Cultural Appropriation in Fashion and Entertainment. Bloomsbury Publishing. 
2. Ling, W., Lorusso, M., & Segre Reinach, S. (2019). Critical Studies in Global Fashion. ZoneModa Journal, 9(2), V–XVI. https://doi.org/10.6092/issn.2611-0563/10066
3. Piancazzo, F. (2023). Developments of Cultural Appropriation in Fashion: An In-Progress Research, in Fashion Communication in the Digital Age. Proceedings of the FACTUM 23 Conference, Pisa, Italy. Cham: Springer, pp. 136–143 (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics).

Teaching methods

The course will take place in person in Rimini.

Classes will alternate between theoretical lectures, case study analysis, and discussion of student projects.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Assessment methods

Attending Students
Active participation in class exercises and ongoing assignments is an integral part of the learning process.

At the end of the course, students will be required to present an individual project orally in class (Task 1), accompanied by the submission of a written version (Task 2). These should demonstrate a solid understanding of international fashion studies in relation to global fashion, as well as correct use of disciplinary terminology. Students will be expected to gather visual and documentary sources in order to develop a critical investigation focused on identifying and analyzing cultural influences in contemporary fashion. Original contributions that reflect conscious engagement with the course content and promote understanding of the cultural and social complexities within the fashion system will be positively evaluated.

Further methodological details and practical instructions will be provided during class sessions.

Non-Attending Students
Oral examination covering all texts listed in the syllabus.

Final Grade Scale:

• 18–19 → Knowledge of only a very limited number of topics; analytical ability emerges only with the instructor’s guidance; generally accurate use of language.

• 20–24 → Knowledge of a limited number of topics; independent analytical skills limited to basic or procedural issues; correct use of language.

• 25–29 → Broad knowledge of course topics; independent critical analysis and confident use of subject-specific terminology.

• 30–30L (cum laude) → Thorough and comprehensive understanding of course content; strong capacity for independent critical thinking and connections between concepts; full command of technical terminology; strong argumentation and self-reflection skills.
  
  
  

 

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint and Video Materials. The slides presented and discussed during class complement the required readings with additional information, including video and visual resources. Students can download the slides from the Virtuale platform.

Office hours

See the website of Flavia Piancazzo