The FAIR FASHION Mentoring Programme brings together emerging talent, experienced professionals and experts from across the fashion and textiles sector.
Designed to bridge the gap between education and industry, the programme gives students, emerging entrepreneurs and young professionals the opportunity to learn directly from people with real experience of the challenges and opportunities shaping fashion today. Through mentoring, participants can strengthen their confidence, professional skills and entrepreneurial thinking, while developing a deeper understanding of sustainability and digitalisation.
The fashion and textiles sector is changing quickly. Sustainability, new technologies, changing business models and new materials are creating opportunities, but they are also creating new challenges for those entering the industry.
For many female students and emerging women innovators, access to industry networks, role models and practical feedback can still be limited. The FAIR FASHION Mentoring Programme helps address this by connecting participants directly with experienced professionals who can share knowledge, challenge ideas and offer practical guidance.
Mentoring is about more than career advice. It can help participants:
The programme brings together a wider mentoring community, including:
primarily female students, student teams, thesis students and emerging entrepreneurs working on fashion-related projects and ideas.
industry professionals and practitioners, particularly women leaders from fashion and textiles companies, who can share practical experience and support emerging talent.
academic and technical experts who bring specialist knowledge and help connect mentoring with education, research and project-based learning.
businesses working on areas such as sustainable sourcing, circular business models, digital innovation, traceability and market development can also benefit from practical mentoring support.
Mentoring is organised around six key areas of expertise, helping us connect participants with people whose knowledge matches their interests, projects or challenges:
Circular economy, low-impact production, carbon reduction, environmental certification and sustainable supply chains.
Eco-materials, bio-based fibres, recycled materials, responsible sourcing and textile waste.
Digital design and production tools, AI, 3D design, virtual prototyping and digital retail.
Entrepreneurship, business models, branding, market entry, investor readiness and social enterprise.
Material innovation, performance textiles, new material development and testing.
Garment construction, pattern making, technical design, manufacturing, quality and craftsmanship.
There is no single way to mentor.
The programme is designed to be flexible, allowing participants and mentors to engage in ways that suit their needs, expertise and availability. Mentoring can take place face-to-face or virtually and may range from a focused conversation or Q&A to longer-term support around a project, thesis, business idea or professional challenge.
Even one conversation with the right person can help develop an idea, provide a new perspective or open the door to a new opportunity.
The programme is supported by the FAIR FASHION Mentor Hub, an online space designed to make the mentoring network visible and accessible.
The Hub allows students and emerging entrepreneurs to discover participating mentors, understand their areas of expertise and connect with the wider FAIR FASHION community. Mentor profiles can include a short biography, areas of expertise and preferred contact details, with profiles only published with the mentor's consent.
Whether you are looking for guidance, hoping to share your experience, or interested in connecting education with the realities of today's fashion industry, the FAIR FASHION Mentoring Programme offers a place to connect, learn and contribute.