On 23 June 2026, the international webinar “Turning Waste into Fashion: Upcycling Textiles for Sustainability and Inclusion” was successfully held online as part of the STITCH – Sustainability Through Innovation, Training, Creativity & STEAM Horizons project (Project No. 2025-1-IT02-KA220-SCH-000353351), co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.
The event brought together teachers, educators, sustainability professionals, researchers, and stakeholders from across Europe to explore how sustainable fashion can become a powerful educational tool for promoting environmental awareness, circular economy principles, and social inclusion.
Addressing the growing challenge of textile waste and the environmental impact of fast fashion, the webinar highlighted how education can support more sustainable lifestyles and encourage responsible consumption through interdisciplinary and STEAM-based learning approaches.
Participants were introduced to inspiring practices that combine creativity, sustainability, and active learning. Among the featured examples was the experience of the NAOMI Ecumenical Workshop for Refugees in Thessaloniki, which uses textile upcycling as a means of fostering social inclusion, skills development, ethical production, and environmental responsibility.
The webinar also showcased the lesson plan “Old Clothes, New Chemistry”, an educational activity designed to help students understand textile materials, distinguish between natural and synthetic fibres, and reflect on the environmental consequences of fashion consumption. Through hands-on activities and guided decision-making processes, students are encouraged to explore creative solutions for repairing, reusing, redesigning, or recycling old garments.
This approach demonstrates how science, mathematics, technology, design, and sustainability can be combined within engaging educational experiences that strengthen critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and active citizenship.
The event concluded with an interactive session that encouraged participants to reflect on the topics discussed and exchange perspectives on the role of education in supporting more sustainable and inclusive societies.
For FICUS ETS, participation in these activities provides a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences with European partners, discover innovative educational practices, and contribute to the development of learning resources that empower young people to address environmental challenges through creativity, innovation, and responsible action.
The STITCH – Sustainability Through Innovation, Training, Creativity & STEAM Horizons project (Project No. 2025-1-IT02-KA220-SCH-000353351) brings together schools, universities, educational organisations, and innovation centres from across Europe to promote sustainability in the fashion sector through STEAM education, creativity, innovation, and collaborative learning.
