On October 16, 2025, the online webinar “ReWear If You Care” took place as part of the Erasmus Days 2025, aiming to promote innovation and sustainability in fashion through an educational and multidisciplinary approach. The event involved schools, universities, and associations from all over Italy, united in reflecting on the values of inclusion, social responsibility, and active citizenship.
The webinar was moderated by Manfredi Barbaro, President of FICUS ETS, who emphasized the importance of leveraging Erasmus+ experiences and fostering a European culture based on democracy, freedom, and sustainability.
Universities and Research Supporting Sustainable Fashion
Prof. Dominique Persano Adorno, coordinator and scientific manager of the STITCH – Sustainability Through Innovation Training Creativity STEM Horizon project and professor of Applied Physics at the University of Palermo, opened the webinar with a talk on the integration of science and fashion.
Through concrete examples, Prof. Persano Adorno demonstrated how applied physics and material science can transform ordinary fabrics into smart materials capable of adapting to the environment, generating energy, and reducing environmental impact. From explaining the lotus effect to creating biofibers from natural waste such as pineapple leaves and apple peels, the session highlighted how research and innovation can lead to responsible, sustainable, and functional fashion, where aesthetics and technology meet.
FICUS ETS: European Projects and Sustainability
Following this, Manfredi Barbaro presented FICUS ETS, illustrating the association’s four pillars – finance, innovation, sustainability, and consultancy – and its daily work in promoting projects with social and environmental impact.
STITCH: Education, Creativity, and Community
Alessia Di Francesca, FICUS ETS’s Chief Operating Officer, provided an overview of the STITCH project, which involves seven partners from six European countries, including universities, secondary schools, non-profits, and innovative companies. The project’s main goal is to bring sustainability into schools, developing students’ digital, technological, and creative skills among 11- to 14-year-olds.
The project includes three phases:
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Teacher training – tools, manuals, and educational kits to facilitate change.
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Student workshops – sustainable fashion labs, creative recycling, digital design, textile experiments, and practical STEM activities.
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4R Program – Reduce, Reuse, Responsibility, and Role as Sustainability Ambassadors, including environmental and social activism activities.
Local Initiatives: Chi Semina Raccoglie
The webinar also showcased concrete examples of sustainable innovation in Sicily. Ambra Mediati, founder of the Chi Semina Raccoglie project, explained how jewelry and home decor can be created from natural and waste materials, promoting upcycling and conscious creativity. The Castelbuono workshop serves as a space for environmental education and community participation, engaging citizens of all ages.
Bridging Innovation, Research, and Community
The ReWear If You Care webinar demonstrated that sustainability is not just a goal but an educational and scientific approach, connecting universities, schools, companies, and local communities. As the speakers emphasized, the future of fashion will be a meeting point of creativity, science, and environmental responsibility, where every garment can tell a story of innovation and sustainability.
To stay updated on the STITCH project and upcoming activities, follow the social media channels of FICUS ETS and the project itself.
