The textiles and fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world just after the oil industry, evaluating not only the production but also the complete life cycle of the products. This industry generates mountains of waste, toxic water and soil pollution, and greenhouse gases. However, recently eco-fashion industry has demonstrated significant growth. Consumer demand for sustainable and eco-friendly fashion products has been constantly growing, and studies show that a significant percentage of consumers are willing to pay a premium for environmentally responsible products.
Eco-design in fashion refers to the concept of creating clothing and fashion products in an environmentally conscious manner, taking into consideration the entire lifecycle of a product, from sourcing of materials to production and disposal.
Eco-design in fashion incorporates a variety of sustainable practices, such as using organic and biodegradable fibres, reducing waste through efficient production processes, and implementing fair labour practices in order to minimise the environmental impact of the fashion industry and create a more responsible and sustainable one.
Moreover, there is a growing demand for innovation and entrepreneurship skills among students in the field of eco-design in fashion. This demand reflects a broader trend of consumers becoming more environmentally conscious and seeking out sustainable fashion options. Additionally, a growing number of employers are seeking individuals with innovation and entrepreneurial skills, as these skills are essential in a rapidly changing and competitive job market.
Fashion.ED project fosters an entrepreneurial, open, digital, and innovative higher education sector in order to develop the entrepreneurial skills of students and encourage them to pursue careers in the eco-fashion sector and contribute to the growth of the circular economy and eco-design in the fashion industry, thus achieving the objectives of the EU Education Area.
The project supports awareness raising about green transition, and environmental challenges and aims at developing skills of students in eco-design in fashion and textiles, thus making them true agents of change.
The project aims to develop a modular MOOC on eco-design in fashion and textiles for HEI students and professionals in the field. Additionally, the project includes transnational training and a competition for students to develop business plans for sustainable fashion ventures, providing them with practical experience and exposure to the entrepreneurial sector. The project also creates virtual laboratory experiments on Eco-Design, through a virtual laboratory lab with 3D representations of testing equipment. The lab will be incorporated into the MOOC and will promote innovation in fashion and textiles. This will support digital transformation and skills.
For more information please visit the project website: https://fashionedproject.eu/ or contact the KTU project leader: daiva.mikucioniene@ktu.lt
