After years of college teaching and working directly with brands, industry vet Derek Sabori is taking his sustainability and sustainable fashion insights and courses online and direct to anyone who wants to dive deep into the topics. Whether for a career pivot, to change the course of your company, or to enhance an already existing commitment, The Underswell School of Understanding’s unique approach and perspective is available for you and/or your team.
Brands are turning to sustainability and responsibility at record pace and they’re building teams and, of course, will need sustainability experts in every department, from design and development to logistics & shipping to retail. Now, more than ever, the customer and the industry is expecting it.
“There’s been a large knowledge gap that’s always bothered me,” said Sabori, a sustainability college instructor, and brand consultant. “You have those of us, the Sustainability VPs, the leads in Sustainability, Compliance, and Responsibility Departments who go to the workshops, and the conferences, and have access to the latest and deepest info and then you have those who want to know, but are swamped with their daily jobs. By the time the learning makes its way through the supply network, and ultimately reaches the customer, there is often much that is lost. I want to close that gap. Everyone, at every stage of the product’s life cycle, should have the knowledge I’ve been lucky enough to acquire. I’m ready to teach, for those who are ready to learn.”
Derek’s courses reside under the name The Underswell School of Understanding, and for now, are set to be offered in the following order on www.theunderswell.thinkific.com beginning April 21st:
Class 100 – Sustainability Essentials & The Triple Bottom Line – Foundational knowledge on the topics and the baseline for further learning. 6-week class meets 2x per week.
Class 200 – Sustainability in the Apparel Industry; From Cradle to Grave – A deep dive into the industry specifics: the issues, the solutions, the organizations, the certifications, and more. Level 2 certification. 6-week class meets 2x per week.
Class 300 – Capstone Research and Mentoring Project – For those who want a Level 3 certification to ensure they have the knowledge and are ready to practice as a sustainability lead, in any department. 4-week class with one-on-one mentoring.
All classes are online and instructor-led, and will also feature special pre-recorded lectures, assignments, and assessments. These are not pre-recorded packages. This is a fast-track to the same knowledge that would typically require 3 semesters – 48 weeks of college class time.
Class prices start at $999 each with early bird discounts and brand bulk-buy package discounts available. For more information, contact Derek at moreinfo@theunderswell.com.
About Derek:
Derek was a former VP of Sustainability at Volcom, Co-Founder of the sustainably-focused mindfulness brand Kozm, and the instructor of the Sustainability in the Apparel Industry Certificate Program at Orange Coast College. Derek has been a full-time, dedicated sustainability professional since 2010, and worked at Volcom for 19 years, 5 of those under Kering’s sustainability guidance. In 2015 he went out on his how to start www.theunderswell.com and www.thekozm.com and has been a consultant, teacher, and entrepreneur since then.
