Globally, PhD training has received particular currency in higher education policy circles. Universities are challenged
to conduct research that demonstrates measurable positive impact to stakeholders. Notably, all fashion design doctoral
theses in Kenyan universities adopted pure/basic research bearing limited scope within the practical-oriented
discipline. This paper explores how thesis content occasioned skewedness toward basic research and limited sustainability
discourse through mixed-method research design. Fashion design-related doctoral research focused on fashion
marketing (34%), fashion design training (22%), textile science (22%), sustainable fashion (11%), and consumer
behaviour (11%). Fashion stakeholders’ increasingly complex conundrums persist for lack of practical solutions notwithstanding
that research outcomes in design-related disciplines need designing. This paper strongly recommends
taught-doctorate programmes incorporating practical-oriented units and alignment of research to national and international
development goals and research agendas. Consequently, fashion design doctoral candidates should competently
engage in emerging discipline-specific issues especially trans-disciplinary applied research in sustainability as
well as human-centred approaches.

Authors: S Njeru, M M'Rithaa.