The fashion and textile industry is at a crossroads. As one of the largest contributors to environmental harm, it faces urgent calls for change. From excessive greenhouse gas emissions to microplastic pollution, the industry’s impact on the planet is undeniable. At the same time, the rise of digitalisation presents an opportunity to reimagine how fashion is designed, produced, and consumed. That’s where the FAIR FASHION Project comes in.
Why FAIR FASHION is Needed
The challenges of sustainability and digitalisation—also known as the twin transitions—are reshaping industries worldwide. However, the fashion and textile sector faces unique hurdles:
- Environmental Impact: The industry’s ecological footprint is staggering, with significant contributions to water and land use and 35% of global microplastic pollution.
- Skills Gaps: Many fashion students and educators lack the digital competencies and sustainability knowledge needed to adapt to a rapidly changing industry.
- Support for Women and SMEs: Women entrepreneurs and small businesses often face barriers to accessing resources and integrating innovative solutions.
The FAIR FASHION Project was created to tackle these challenges head-on. By bridging education, industry, and innovation, we aim to foster a more sustainable, inclusive, and forward-thinking fashion ecosystem.
Our Goals and Objectives
FAIR FASHION focuses on three primary objectives:
- Empowering Educators: Equip higher education lecturers with the tools, resources, and motivation to integrate green and digital skills into their curricula.
- Supporting Students: Provide students, especially women, with hands-on experience in sustainability and digital technologies to prepare them for the future of fashion.
- Driving Collaboration: Strengthen connections between academia, industry, and small businesses to promote innovative and practical solutions for the industry’s challenges.
Through these goals, we’re working towards a fashion industry that values creativity, ethics, and sustainability.
What’s in the Pipeline?
Over the next few years, FAIR FASHION will deliver several key initiatives:
- Toolkit & Case Studies Collection: A comprehensive resource for educators featuring strategies, digital tools, and inspiring examples of green and digital innovations.
- Green+Digital Bootcamps: Immersive, interdisciplinary learning experiences bringing students, educators, and entrepreneurs together to solve real-world problems using cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, and 3D printing.
- Mentorship Programme: A tailored programme connecting female students with successful women entrepreneurs to foster leadership, collaboration, and innovation.
Each activity is designed to ensure practical, lasting impacts on education and the fashion industry.
Who’s Involved?
FaiR Fashion is powered by a dynamic group of six project partners, each bringing unique expertise:
- Hochschule Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences (NUAS): A leader in textile engineering and sustainability research.
- Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS): Known for its forward-thinking fashion education and entrepreneurship programmes.
- ITU ARI Teknokent: Turkey’s premier technology park, supporting digital and sustainable innovations in fashion.
- Istanbul Technical University (ITU): A renowned institution driving cutting-edge textile research and interdisciplinary learning.
- Momentum: Specialists in innovative educational programmes and impactful dissemination.
- European E-Learning Institute (EUEI): Experts in digital learning and accessibility, creating interactive resources to support the twin transitions.
Together, we’re working to reshape the future of fashion and textile education.
Join Us on This Journey
The FAIR FASHION Project is more than a response to the industry’s challenges—it’s a vision for a better future. By empowering students, educators, and entrepreneurs, we’re laying the foundation for a greener, more inclusive fashion world.
Stay tuned for updates, resources, and opportunities to get involved. Let’s transform the future of fashion together!