On 13 May 2026, the Erasmus+ STITCH project successfully held its third international webinar entitled “Transferring Sustainable Fashion Practices into Middle School Education”, hosted online by Yıldız Technical University.
The webinar brought together teachers, educators, researchers, sustainability professionals and stakeholders interested in exploring how sustainable practices from the fashion and retail sectors can be transformed into meaningful educational experiences for middle school students through STEAM-based methodologies.
Moderated by Dr. Tuba Uğraş from Yıldız Technical University, the session opened with an introduction to the objectives of the STITCH project and the importance of strengthening sustainability education from an early age through interdisciplinary and practice-oriented approaches.
One of the main focuses of the webinar was the connection between professional sustainability practices and educational innovation. During the first part of the session, participants had the opportunity to discover concrete examples of environmental strategies implemented both in local institutions and within the retail sector.
Mr. Vural Korkmaz, Director of Foreign Affairs at Antalya Muratpaşa Municipality, presented several initiatives developed by the municipality to promote environmental sustainability and waste reduction at local level. His contribution highlighted the important role local authorities can play in promoting circular economy principles, community awareness and responsible consumption through public policies and local initiatives.
The webinar also featured Mr. Yakup Ünlü, Planning Engineer at Civil Retail Inc., who shared practical examples from the retail and fashion sectors, focusing on recycling systems, sustainable management strategies and the growing importance of environmentally responsible practices within the fashion industry.
The second part of the webinar focused on the educational transferability of these professional experiences and on how they can be adapted to middle school learning environments. Speakers shared ideas and perspectives on how to introduce topics such as sustainable fashion, recycling awareness, zero waste strategies and circular economy principles into school curricula through practical, interdisciplinary and learning-by-doing activities.
Special attention was given to the value of project-based learning and experiential education in helping students understand the environmental impact of production processes and consumption patterns.
Through initiatives such as this webinar, the STITCH project continues to strengthen international collaboration among schools, universities, sustainability experts and local stakeholders while supporting the development of practical tools and innovative methodologies to bring sustainability and sustainable fashion education into European schools.
The full recording of the webinar is available on YouTube at the following link:
