Have you ever imagined a world where fashion is not only stylish, but also sustainable and technologically advanced? The fashion industry is at the threshold of transformation. The need for sustainability and digitalization has never been more legitimate. CCI, together with its project partners TECOFASH, is making this vision a reality and hinting at how to become part of the change.
The TECOFASH consortium was founded by seven partners from five EU countries with a focus on entrepreneurship, fashion and textiles. Combining experience and expertise, it has developed innovative educational materials for small businesses and aspiring fashion entrepreneurs to help the sector operate in a sustainable and digitally advanced manner.
The project has produced a comprehensive training program on sustainable production processes that offers a holistic view of HR issues in the fashion sector and in-depth insights into sustainable business models and the circular economy, as well as a handbook on sustainable and digital management of a fashion company. A training platform has also been launched, where one can find practical guidance integrating sustainability into business decisions, the best digital management methods tailored to the fashion industry, as well as comprehensive case studies, insights and practical tips for startups and experienced entrepreneurs.
The tools offered are aimed at connecting fashion and textile companies with younger generation and attracting new talent to the industry, linking industry representatives with training experts, providing transparent and open content in a free-access formula, making full use of digital technologies and virtual collaboration to improve the skills of the sector’s employees.
Let’s create, collaborate and change in a sustainable way!
In the final, test phase of the project CCI invited School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU) and students of Zespoł Szkół Artystyczno-Projektowych in Tarnowskie Góry for cooperation. Participants of the study, in pairs, were testing the content of the modules, covering topics such as: selecting and/or combining business models, developing a cultural change program to facilitate the implementation of new business models, analyzing the risks and impacts associated with innovation, engaging partners, developing an innovation master plan and its communication, principles of cooperation and mutual learning. A number of important insights and recommendations, resulting from the teamwork, made it possible to make final changes to the training materials to make the content both practical and user-friendly.
The testing, taking place from December 1-14, 2023, was attended by:
Ba(Hons) Patrycja Chojnacka – fashion designer.
Lecturer in clothing design (fashion perception) at the School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU) and fashion perception at the International School of Fashion Design. Graduate of fashion design at Cambridge School of Art – Anglia Ruskin University. She received her master’s degree from St. Mary’s University in London. As an expert in clothing design, she focuses not only on creative aspects, but also on social and cultural issues. Her approach to teaching is extremely balanced, with an emphasis on diversity, inclusion and racial equity in education. Her versatility is complemented by the unique experiences she has gained from participating in prestigious industry events, such as Masterclasses with James Patterson (creative writing), Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour (leadership and sustainability), and Bob Iger.
Adriana Klisch – second year Fashion Design student.
mgr of art Anna Niemczyk – fashion designer.
Graduate of Akademia Sztuk Piększych in Łódź, where she received diploma with honors from Katedra Edukacji Wizualnej i Projektowania Ubioru. She is currently a lecturer at the School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU), in which she teaches subjects such as dress design, fashion illustration and fabric with elements of material science. She is an experienced fashion designer, previously associated with She is an experienced clothing designer, formerly associated with the renowned companies „PABIA” and „Mode Bruckmann”. She collaborated in the creation of an exclusive line of coats for the prestigious Pierre Cardin brand. She specializes in designing high-tech garments using unconventional fabrics. She also works with event companies, engaging in shaping the image of various brands, including TYMBARK, REIFFEISEN BANK, Warsaw Chopin Airport, POLKOMTEL, NESTLE, MAZDA, MERCEDES, PROCTER&GAMBLE, KNORR, LA FESTA.
Anna Grzeszuk – second year School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU) student.
mgr Magdalena Kęskiewicz – fashion design,
stylist, visual artis, journalist, pop culture and creative work with people enthusiast. Graduate of the School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU). She also She also holds a degree in Journalism and Social Communication from Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Lecturer at the Krakowskie Szkoły Artystyczne since 2008. At the School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU), he teaches subjects such as structures and responsible fashion, analysis of contemporary collections, fashion PR, fashion marketing and identification. At International School of Fashion Design she teaches structures, fashion styling, analysis of contemporary collections, fashion marketing and visual identification, PR in fashion. She runs her own business, Concept Studio Young Fashion, which is also a tailor store, store and gallery in one. She designs collections, participates in fashion shows and competitions including OFF Fashion Kielce, Złota Nitka 2007, FUTURE. She also works as a stylist for photo shoots, published in Eks-Magazyn and Miasto Kobiet, among others. She cooperates with fashion photographers, clothing companies, advertising agencies and show producers (Moda&Styl, Lounge Magazine, Secret Lashes).
Anna Grzeszuk – first year School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU) student.
The work was supported by second-year Fashion Design students Veronika Styranka and Viktoriia Kuznetsova.
In order to compare the level of understanding and ease of assimilation of the content of the modules, female students of the technician-stylist course from the Zespoł Szkół Artystyczno-Projektowych in Tarnowskie Góry (class 2, age: 15) were also invited to test.
CREATIVITY, COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION
School of Art and Fashion Design (SAPU), one of ten faculties of the Cracow School of Art is a fashion university that has been providing cadres for apparel companies for 30 years. SAPU designers, technologists and clothing designers support production in small and major Polish companies. Designers of SAPU, technicians and constructors of clothing support the production in small and the biggest polish enterprises. Graduates of the School of Fashion Construction and the School of Visual Merchandising, which were established as a consequence of meeting the needs of the apparel industry, are also highly regarded. KSA’s mission is to provide graduates with extensive development opportunities by combining a high level of education with ongoing relationship building with business, media and influencers. Exhibitions, workshops, masterclasses and international cultural events provide an opportunity to meet prominent design personalities. Organized by KSA, Cracow Fashion Week (CFW), one of the largest fashion events in Poland and a space for companies to promote themselves, will take place from March 17-26, 2024. The program includes the Cracow Fashion Awards competition, the SAPU Graduation Show, the environmental No Waste Show, lectures and workshops addressing new technologies, design in CLO3d and Blender, the impact of innovation, artificial intelligence and sustainability principles on creative industries.
For more information about the university: https://www.ksa.edu.pl/ and the Cracow Fashion Awards: https://cracowfashionweek.com/
Art and Design School Complex in Tarnowskie Góry – a place of development, creation and discovery of new talents
The school has existed since January 1927 and was established on the initiative of the Towarzystwo Polek(Polish Women’s Society). In its first period of operation it was called the Prywatna Żeńska Szkoła Zawodowa Towarzystwa Polek (Private Female Vocational School of the Polish Women’s Society). The school’s activities were interrupted by World War II. After a pause of nearly six years, the school began regular education. Since 1949, the Państwowe Gimnazjum i Liceum Przemysłu Odzieżowego I Stopnia (State Middle and High School of Clothing Industry First Degree) appeared in documents parallel to the name Państwowa Szkoła Zawodowa Żeńska (Female State Vocational School). In 1959, the Clothing Technical School was established on the basis of the ZSO, and in 1964 the Technikum Odzieżowe dla Pracujących (Clothing Technical School for Workers) was established. In 1962 the school held its first high matura examination. Since 1969, the Zasadnicza Szkoła Odzieżowa dla Pracujących ZPO BYTOM (Clothing Technical School for Workers ZPO BYTOM) was in operation. In 1975, a collective school complex called the Zespół Szkół Odzieżowych (Clothing School Complex) was established. In 2002, the school changed its name to the Edukacyjne Centrum Ubioru i Rzemiosła (Educational Dressmaking and Crafts Center), and a High School was established, which is currently no longer in operation. Since 2005, the High School of Arts began to operate. Since 01.09.2008 the school has been called the Art and Design School Complex. It educates in the following majors: Graphic Arts and Digital Printing Technician, Fine Arts – Artistic Photography, Fine Arts – Interior Design, and Stylist Technician. Education in the profession of stylist technician is implemented from the school year 2022/23 based on education in two qualifications: Clothing Design and Manufacturing and Fashion Styling and Image Creation. This is a new attractive profession combining skills in clothing, hairdressing and make-up. Stylist technician is a combination of elements of designing and making collections of clothing products with elements of hair and makeup design and selection, providing the opportunity to obtain a comprehensive education that meets the needs of the labor market. For more information about the school and education directions: https://www.zsap.info/
All educational materials developed as part of the project have been made available for free, on an open access basis thanks to funding from the Erasmus+ program. They are available here: https://tecofash.erasmus.site/
Changing lives. Opening minds.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
Project Number: 2021-1-PL01-KA220-VET000034636
Duration: 01.01.2022 – 01.01.2024
Partners:
Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice (leader)
Stowarzyszenie na rzecz Promocji Kultury i Rzemiosł Dawnych „Wici”
CWEP – Centrum Wspierania Edukacji i Przedsiębiorczości
Institute of Entrepreneurship Development – Greece
Lithuanian Apparel and Textile Industry Association Latia – Lithuania
Lottozero – Italy
MARKEUT SKILLS SOCIEDAD LIMITADA – Spain