The Circle of Fashion project, co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, has recently kicked off its online platform. This project, which includes partners from Sweden, Lithuania, Cambodia, and Indonesia, is among the first that tackles the fast fashion problem through youth work and non-formal education. The unique approach of this project is expected to bring unique results.
One of the key features of this project is its international capacity building program, which includes training courses and job shadowings. To make it more sustainable, all the CO2 emissions from travel and events will be offset. The job shadowing abroad will be highly immersive, providing youth workers with hands-on experience in projects related to the fast fashion industry in different local settings. The training courses will follow a similar logic, providing practice and field experience to solidify the gained knowledge.
The project will also include research on the fashion industry’s impact and possible ways to reduce it, especially through youth work. The project will collaborate with fashion universities/colleges to encourage the younger generation to be more conscious about clothing consumption. This will be done through a series of events called “Circle of Fashion,” which will feature flea markets, swap/sell your clothes, and DIY workshops. Eight events are expected in each partner country within the project, with more to come afterward.
Another innovative element of this project is the illustrated guidelines/methodology, including tools and good practices, on how to protect the environment and promote sustainability. The methods will be developed based on the training courses and job shadowing activities implemented within the project.
A short documentary film will also be produced about the negative aspects of the fast fashion industry and how our daily habits affect the world. This film will be shot throughout the project’s activities.
Finally, the project will culminate in a final event/conference, which will talk about and promote youth work tools to tackle the negative sides of fast fashion. All these innovative elements are designed to best tackle the problem, raise social awareness, and be sustainable even after the project is finished.
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