At the University of Salford, we see sustainability as a perspective that shapes how students understand and interact with the world. For Susan Ejeme, a graduate of the MSc Fashion Business and Marketing programme, this perspective has deeply influenced both her career goals and her personal approach to fashion.
Since starting her degree, Susan has been exploring the intersections of creativity, commerce, and conscious consumerism. While she continues to send out applications for marketing roles within the fashion industry, she has simultaneously been building her own content creation platform and reviving her modelling career, debuting at the Black Creative Trailblazer Showcase in October.
“I’m not just creating for the sake of it anymore,” Susan reflects. “I want to create for a change, pieces that have longevity and meaning, rather than just contributing to fast fashion waste.”
Learning Sustainability in Every Module
For Susan, sustainability wasn’t confined to a single lesson. Across every module, from Fashion Industry Insights to Innovation for Growth, she was challenged to consider the environmental and social impact of her decisions.
One module really left a lasting impression: Circular Economy and Responsible Management. Through this course, Susan explored how the fashion industry could embrace recycling, repairing, and reusing items rather than discarding them. A field trip to the ACS Fashion Hub in Scotland offered a hands-on look at these processes in action, from production and washing to rental and resale systems.
“Seeing how sustainability is implemented on the ground was eye-opening,” she says. “It made me rethink how I design, market, and promote fashion.”
This experience was further enriched by a six-week internship with ACS’s marketing team, where Susan applied her learnings remotely, also spending a couple of days on-site to witness sustainable practices firsthand.
Sustainability as a Guiding Principle
Susan’s approach to fashion has shifted profoundly since starting her degree. She now asks critical questions about every creation:
- Why am I producing this?
- How can it serve the consumer sustainably?
- Can it be restyled, repaired, or rented instead of discarded?
“Even when I sketch now, I think about longevity and multifunctionality,” Susan explains. “I want every piece I create to have value beyond the runway.”
This mindset extends beyond her professional ambitions. Susan reports that she now makes more conscious choices in her personal life, prioritising quality over quantity, longevity over trends, and mindful purchasing over impulsive buying.
Inspiration and Mentorship
Susan credits much of her sustainability outlook to two key influences during her time at Salford: Deborah Smailes, her programme lead, and Hayley McDonald at ACS, the Business Development Manager.
“Deborah encouraged us to question everything, from ethical practices to community impact,” Susan recalls. “Her guidance made sustainability intentional, not incidental.”
“Haley also inspired me, showing how sustainability can be embedded in everyday business practices and marketing strategies,” she adds.
Advice for Current Students
Susan’s advice to those following in her footsteps is clear: embrace sustainability both inside and outside the classroom. Pay attention to newsletters, seek opportunities beyond the syllabus, and apply lessons in every project, internship, and creative endeavour.
“Sustainability is not just a module or a checkbox,” she emphasizes. “It’s a mindset. Start questioning the system, learn how to make positive impact, and carry that thinking into your career.”
Looking Ahead
Susan sees a future in which sustainable fashion isn’t optional, it’s essential. From designing versatile, long-lasting clothing to influencing brand practices through marketing, she is committed to creating a fashion industry that balances artistry, functionality, and responsibility.
Her journey at Salford exemplifies how sustainability education can inspire students to rethink their practices, influence industry norms, and live intentionally. Through her experiences, Susan demonstrates that real change starts with questioning, learning, and applying principles thoughtfully, whether on campus, in the studio, or in everyday life.
Susan Ejeme’s journey shows that at Salford, sustainability is not just a subject, it’s a way of life, shaping the next generation of leaders with creativity, purpose, and lasting impact. Stay tuned as we share more inspiring stories from our alumni.
Written by Saadan Hussain, MSc Sustainability student and Student Education for Sustainable Development Champion.