dESIGN SMART

Objectives

The EU textiles and fashion industry contributes €163 billion to the EU economy, employing over 1.6 million people and providing jobs for nearly 4 million. However, it is among the EU's most polluting sectors, generating approximately 270 kg of CO2 per person in 2022, with clothing responsible for 2% to 10% of the EU's environmental impact. That means textile and fashion products consumed in the EU generated greenhouse gas emissions of 121 million tonnes. Worse, 87% of textiles end up in landfills or incinerators within a year, costing the EU economy €7.6 billion annually. (EU Parliament Report 23).

The Design-Smart project aims to strengthen VET providers with advanced training in sustainable fashion and digital tools to support the upskilling of the business sector while equipping SMEs and women entrepreneurs with the skills to implement green, circular, and innovative business practices.

The specific objectives are:

OS1: Strengthen VET Providers with AI and eco-design Training Resources, creating a Sustainable Fashion and AI Curriculum.

OS2: Empower SMEs and Women Entrepreneurs with Sustainable Fashion & Digital Tools

OS3: Bridge the gap between VET and the business sector through collaboration, building a digital platform linking VET and SMEs

OS4: Raise Awareness and Enhance Work-Based Learning in Sustainable Fashion & and AI

The main expected results of the project will be:

• Sustainable Fashion & AI Curriculum
• Train-the-Trainer seminars reaching over 200+ educators
• 7 new VET curricula on Sustainable Fashion and AI adopted by VET institutions.
• A Mentorship Programme and Self-Assessment Tool with AI-powered eco-design guides, ethical material databases, and circular economy templates
• Self-assessment tool for SMEs to benchmark sustainability progress
• Digital platform engaging 200+ VET institutions and SMEs, with Open-access training modules on AI tools (e.g., waste reduction simulator) (WP4)