Abstract
In the fashion and textile industry, the manufacturing phase is when the design patterns are turned into a final product, using different materials, equipment, labour force, energy, water, etc. This industry makes lovely items, uses a significant amount of raw materials, water and energy, and produces waste and CO2 emissions. Under these circumstances, the companies and the consumers have to make some changes: to reduce the number of products that are purchased, used, and disposed of and to reintegrate the used products or waste in different steps of manufacturing processes to obtain new materials and other items (the linear business model becomes a circular model). The European Commission supports initiatives that aim to find sustainable resources, innovate the production flow, and preserve 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 project's main objective: creating an innovative learning curriculum in line with the textile and fashion industry designers' needs incorporated into an e-learning platform. The platform content is well-suited for VET trainers, students, managers, technicians, and entrepreneurs who wish to acquire the competencies and skills necessary to implement new Eco-design practices and circular economy principles in the fashion and textile industry. |
