• Understand and reflect critically on the theory, concepts, tools and cases covered in the course
• Demonstrate knowledge of the core concepts and contemporary condition of the fashion industry
• Apply analytical frameworks of the course to identify opportunities and address challenges of fashion enterprises.
• Propose a convincing business plan for an upstart fashion business or a project which helps address challenges of growth and develop an established fashion enterprise.

This course introduces students to the fashion business and helps them develop the analytical and practical skills to help establish and develop sustainable fashion enterprises. The course starts with an outline of the contemporary structure and transformations of the fashion industry in Denmark and beyond. It identifies key trends and forces driving change, including globalization of sourcing and markets, digitalization and demand for more sustainable and responsible business practice. Drawing on the outline as well as company cases, the course will explore the main challenges faced by entrepreneurs as well as more established fashion enterprises, and the opportunities for developing succesful business models and strong brands in contemporary fashion. The course presents a framework for understanding different phases, critical moments and key value relationships in the growth of fashion companies. The framework addresses central aspects of running a fashion business and provides students practical insights and tools to deal with issues of finance, sourcing, CSR, design, production, sales channels, communication, legal affairs, IPR and brand building. Relating to fashion's networks and entrepreneurship ecosystem, we examine which resources emerging fashion entreprises have access to, under which conditions.

During the course, the students should acquire the skills to competently formulate, develop or review business models of fashion companies and propose action to address challenges of business growth.

The course draws on different disciplines, including fashion theory, entrepreneurship studies, business model theory, business economics, strategic brand management, CSR theory.

The course provides students with analytic concepts and practical knowledge and skills to help establish and develop sustainable fashion enterprises as entrepreneurs, consultants or business analysts.

The course is developed and will be offered in close collaboration with Danish fashion industry associations and companies

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