Circular Urban Fashion: Europe’s Inclusive Renaissance CIRCUFash

The project is coordinated by Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences through its Fashion Design & Identity research group. CIRCUFash is fully aligned with the vision of Fashion Design & Identity: fashion as a cultural practice, in which design is inextricably linked to social context, power dynamics and identity formation. 

WhyCIRCUFash? 

The fashion industry is changing rapidly, but education does not always keep pace. At the same time, many voices and perspectives remain under-represented in fashion: from women who have survived violence to migrants and refugees.

CIRCUFash was launched in response to the question: how can fashion education train designers to work in a circular and digital way, make space for diverse identities and stories, and approach fashion as a means for social change?

The project thus combines urban fashion, circularity and inclusive learning to create new educational practices. 

What is the project researching and developing? 

The project focuses on integrating design, creation and reflection within learning environments, with a particular focus on the following areas: 

1. Circular design and production methods in an urban context
2. The use of digital tools in design and manufacturing processes
3. Educational models that are accessible to people from diverse backgrounds
4. Collaboration between designers, social initiatives and educational institutions 

Approach

CIRCUFash employs practice-based research and co-creation. In collaboration with European partners, we: 

• Circular and inclusive teaching modules developed and tested
• Urban fashion labs set up as spaces for learning and experimentation
• Training courses organised in collaboration with social fashion initiatives
• Knowledge shared between educational institutions and civil society organisations.

Furthermore, the insights gained from the project are fed back into the teaching at AMFI. 

What are the benefits of CIRCUFash? 

The project will result in:

• New educational concepts for circular and inclusive fashion;
• Tools and methods for Fashion Design & Identity teachers and students;
• Learning environments that focus on identity, craftsmanship and social impact;
• The creation of accessible training opportunities for people who are often under-represented in the fashion sector, such as women who have been victims of violence, migrants and refugees;
• A European network of designers, teachers and social fashion initiatives. 

 Team AUAS 

• José Teunissen – Lecturer Fashion Design & Identity
• Gwen Parry – Research Manager, Fashion Research & Technology
• Merunisha Moonilal – Researcher and Sustainability Coordinator, FDMCI/AMFI 

Partners 

• The Nest Social Cooperative Enterprise (SOFFA) – Athens 
  A social fashion initiative focused on circular production and training for women, migrants and refugees.
• Fashion Revolution France – Paris 
  An organisation promoting fashion activism, transparency and social justice.
• Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu (ULBS) – Romania 
  University partner with expertise in interdisciplinary and digital education.
• CEDECS–TCBL – France 
  Innovation partner specialising in circular textile ecosystems and urban fashion labs.  

This project is funded by Erasmus+ (opens in new window).