How can old clothes and textile waste become opportunities for learning, sustainability and social inclusion?
This question will be at the heart of the international webinar “Turning Waste into Fashion: Upcycling Textiles for Sustainability and Inclusion”, organised by Anatolia College within the framework of the Erasmus+ STITCH project (2025-1-IT02-KA220-SCH-000353351).
The online event will take place on 23 June 2026 at 16:00 CET and will bring together educators, sustainability experts and social inclusion practitioners to explore innovative approaches to sustainable fashion, circular economy and STEAM education.
The webinar will draw inspiration from the experience of the NAOMI Ecumenical Workshop for Refugees in Thessaloniki, a social initiative that uses textile upcycling to support social inclusion, skills development and ethical production practices. Through its work, NAOMI demonstrates how discarded materials can be transformed into valuable products while creating opportunities for empowerment and community engagement.
Alongside this inspiring example, the Anatolia College team will present an educational approach that combines science, sustainability and creativity. Participants will discover how STEAM methodologies can help students explore textile materials, understand the environmental impact of fast fashion and develop innovative solutions for reusing and redesigning garments.
A key part of the webinar will be the presentation of the lesson plan “Old Clothes, New Chemistry”, a classroom-ready educational resource designed for lower secondary education. The lesson introduces students to natural, synthetic and blended fibres, while encouraging them to investigate sustainable alternatives through hands-on activities, critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving.
The webinar will feature contributions from:
• Dr. Iro Koliakou, Head of STEM, Anatolia College
• Peggy Perakaki, Social Responsibility, Anatolia College
• Elena Kosmidou, Chemist, Anatolia College
• Konstantina Koutsogianni, Mathematician, Anatolia College
• A representative of the NAOMI Ecumenical Workshop for Refugees
The event is addressed to teachers, educators, youth workers, school leaders, curriculum developers, researchers and all professionals interested in integrating sustainability, circular economy and innovative teaching methodologies into their educational practice.
By presenting real-life examples, practical educational resources and interdisciplinary STEAM approaches, the webinar aims to support educators in bringing sustainable fashion and responsible consumption into the classroom in meaningful and engaging ways.
Registration are now open at the following link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1538f27a-22c2-458d-a4ea-ac4c3d696291@517c569c-dd6b-48c6-9d74-7e1db94fef56
The STITCH project is co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union and promotes innovative educational approaches that connect sustainability, circular economy, responsible fashion and STEAM education in secondary schools across Europe.
For more information: https://www.euproject.eu/stitch/
