By addressing the above needs, we aimed to explore synergies between fashion and food that could foster innovation, reduce environmental footprints, and promote sustainable consumption patterns. This project provided an opportunity to bridge the knowledge and practices of two seemingly distinct industries, demonstrating that their convergence could drive new, impactful solutions for sustainability. We wanted to develop an interdisciplinary and international joint work on cutting edge knowledge to be conveyed in flexible and digital learning materials, focusing on each sector (Fashion & Food) and their intersections. Our objectives, in short, were: -Updating the communication and management competencies of BA and MA students to meet the current needs of the fashion and food sectors, addressing their growing convergence. We developed six comprehensive online learning modules to enhance critical knowledge and skills on sustainability challenges, -Introducing in the university courses and teachers' practices a renewed attention to future trends of fashion&food synergies, through the development of specific learning materials, -Developing community competencies in the same fields, by transferring contents in an easily accessible way.
The key background elements highlighted in the proposal about the value and trends of the Fashion & Food sectors remain pressing challenges, that served as guiding references throughout its duration. Our decision to apply stemmed from recognizing the overlapping environmental, social and cultural impacts of these two industries. Both sectors face significant sustainability challenges, such as resource-intensive supply chains, waste generation, and consumer pressure for transparency and eco-friendly practices. Both sectors require the development of specific communication techniques and strategies, to convey the strong intertwining of business strategies, knowledge, aesthetics, ethical values, based on updated knowledge on sustainability issues, in its multifaceted characteristics: environmental, economic, social and cultural. The project faced the need to upgrade HE students’ knowledge and competences to drive the next joint development of the two sectors. The University teachers need to have wider and deeper knowledge of the two sectors and their intersections facing sustainability issues as well. Opening to the wider public the project answered their need to have new critical point of view on the main sectoral matter and trends.