With this project, we aimed to raise young people's awareness of the diverse STEM related career fields within the fashion and textile industry during the phase of career orientation (O1). The project responded to the need to better prepare young people for the changing demands of the labour market. Particularly in the fashion and textile sector, technological developments, digitalisation and sustainability are creating new job profiles and competence requirements at a faster pace than training curricula and existing career guidance measures can adapt. This creates a need to integrate current developments into educational processes at an early stage and to complement existing career orientation activities. The project addressed this need by providing young people with practical insights into emerging occupational fields and STEM related activities along the textile value chain, thereby supporting informed and future oriented career decisions.
With this project, we aimed to raise young people’s awareness of STEM related career opportunities within the fashion and textile industry during their career orientation phase (O1). The project was based on the assumption that the transition towards a more sustainable fashion industry cannot be achieved through changing consumer behaviour or increasing supply chain transparency alone. Instead, technological innovation and continuous development across the entire textile value chain are required. Particular challenges were identified in the development of sustainable fibre technologies, especially reducing the use of fossil based raw materials for synthetic polymers, improving environmentally friendly yarn and fabric production processes, and advancing textile finishing, where chemical processes remain essential. In addition, innovation is needed in resource efficient and material saving machinery and production methods. The project aimed to make these innovation potentials visible to young people and strengthen their interest in STEM competences as a key enabler of sustainable transformation in the fashion and textile sector.