E-LEARNING PLATFORM OF ECO-DESIGN IN TEXTILE AND FASHION SECTORS TOWARDS A CIRCULAR TEXTILE
E-LEARNING PLATFORM OF ECO-DESIGN IN TEXTILE AND FASHION SECTORS TOWARDS A CIRCULAR TEXTILE

Summary/Abstract: In the fashion and textile industry, each item’s production process consists of at least two stages: design and manufacture. The design stage is the conceptual phase in which all necessary attributes are defined, developed and created (according to the purpose of the product or fashion trends). The manufacturing phase is the one in which the design patterns are turned into a final product by using different categories of materials, equipment, labour force, energy, water, etc. Unfortunately, the textile industry is one of the most polluting ones because it uses a significant amount of raw materials, water and energy. This means that besides its nice products, it also produces a significant amount of waste and CO2 emissions. Under these circumstances, some changes in this type of business are necessary in order to transition from a linear business model in which products are purchased, used, and disposed of to a circular business model, which allows the reintegration of what is initially regarded as waste into different types of manufacturing processes for the purpose of obtaining new materials and products. The design phase is the key step that makes this transition possible. The European Commission supports initiatives that aim at finding sustainable resources, innovating the production flow, and preserving natural resources. The “Innovative design practices for achieving a new textile circular sector, Acronym Design4Circle” project, funded by the European Commission through the Erasmus+ program KA2 - Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices, KA202 - Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training, aims at covering the skill gaps in eco-innovation of European designers of textile and fashion products in order to enable them to adapt to the circular model. This paper presents the main objective of the project: creating an innovative learning curriculum in line with the textile and fashion industry designers’ needs that is incorporated into an e-learning platform. The e-learning tool is the result of the collaborations of faculty members, researchers and other specialists in the field of the textile and fashion industry. Its content is well-suited for VET trainers, students, managers, technicians, and entrepreneurs who wish to acquire the competencies and skills necessary to implement new ecodesign practices and circular economy principles in the fashion and textile industry.

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