Achazya Yuwono

What made you want to apply to your course and to Leeds? 

When I was still in School, I did an internship at a company that sold sustainable shoes made using tempeh, which sparked my interest in the field of sustainable fashion. At that time, I was a bit confused as to what undergraduate course I wanted to pursue in university, as I was interested in science but also wanted to pursue something that had design elements to it. After doing some research, I came across the Sustainable Fashion BA degree in the University of Leeds website. I read more about it, and the curriculum was interesting to me as I wanted to know more about how the fashion industry was changing to be more sustainable. It was also interesting to me that the University of Leeds is a Russell Group University, and that it’s heavily focused on research which I liked to do. 

What aspects of the course do you enjoy the most? 

I enjoy the fact that we are able to have a balance between theories and practical work in this course. We have opportunities to do research and analyse sustainability within the supply chain, and also perform durability tests on garments using lab facilities. I enjoy this process because it allows me to further understand how the industry is incorporating sustainability within their practices.

What is it that makes you passionate about your area of study?

Similar to what I mentioned about the aspects that I love about the course, I enjoy being able to learn about sustainability from the perspective of the entire supply chain. Rather than just focusing on one aspect, the course allows me to understand the importance of having sustainability from raw materials to end of life of a garment. I find that this is especially important to understand in the context of today’s world, where issues related to climate change and modern slavery are present. 

What other activities are available for students to take part in outside of their studies, and which ones have you tried out yourself? 

There are a range of activities for students to do in the University of Leeds. There are more than 300 societies available at the university which students can take part in. I recently joined the yoga society and I’ve been having an enjoyable time being able to relax outside of my studies and interact with others from different schools. There are also opportunities for students to interact with others through fun events held throughout the year. These activities range from well-being events, to craft-making and meet-and-greets. 

How do you think the skills and knowledge you’ve developed at Leeds will help with your career plans?

The skills that I’ve developed in my course, such as garment testing, critical reading and analysis, and team working are highly relevant for future careers in the field of sustainable fashion. These skills are highly valued in the industry as new innovations are constantly made, and collaborations are more important to achieve change. The research skills that I’ve gained along the way are also important in ensuring that I become a critical thinker in learning new knowledge that may be introduced to the fashion industry in the future.