GEN-C: reGENerative entrepreneurship Competencies for fashion
Project
How can fashion entrepreneurs move beyond reducing harm and instead actively regenerate ecosystems, communities and value chains? With this question at its core, GEN-C (reGENerative Entrepreneurship Competencies for Fashion) is a new international Erasmus+ project led by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS), through the Fashion Research and Technology research group at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute (AMFI). The project is funded by the European Union and Erasmus+.
GEN-C responds to the urgent need for transformation in the international fashion industry. As climate pressures, circular economy ambitions and social responsibility reshape the sector, incremental sustainability is no longer sufficient. While sustainability focuses on reducing negative impact, regeneration seeks to actively create positive ecological and social value through the way businesses operate. The next generation of fashion entrepreneurs must be equipped to think and act regeneratively.
Fashion education must evolve alongside the industry it serves. With GEN-C, we are developing the competencies that enable future entrepreneurs not only to innovate, but to contribute meaningfully to ecological and social regeneration.
Troy Nachtigall
Prof. Fashion Research & Technology AUAS
GEN-C will investigate and co-create:
- A competency framework for regenerative fashion entrepreneurship
- Educational methodologies to translate regenerative thinking into actionable skills
- Curriculum materials and toolkits for higher education institutions
- Case studies and practical learning resources
- Workshops and international knowledge exchange activities
The project combines academic research, educational innovation and industry perspectives to ensure that outcomes are directly applicable in both classrooms and entrepreneurial practice.
Intended impact
GENC contributes to transforming fashion education across Europe. By embedding regenerative entrepreneurship competencies in higher education, the project supports the development of resilient, future-oriented fashion systems and advances Europe’s broader regenerative transition.
AUAS Team
- Troy Nachtigall – Research Professor of Fashion Technology
- Gwen Parry - Research Manager, Fashion Research and Technology
- Ishwari Thopte - Research Lead and Lecturer, Fashion and Branding at AMFI
- Sam Edens – Researcher, Bio-based and generative materials
Partners
- University of Galway (Ireland) - online course design & entrepreneurship education
- EGE University (Turkey) - digital platform & toolkit development
- Universidad de Vigo (Spain) - quality assurance & evaluation
- EOLAS S.L. (Spain) - dissemination & mainstreaming
Together, the consortium combines expertise in fashion research, regenerative business, educational innovation and international collaboration.
This project is funded by the European Union and Erasmus+.