Just Fashion aims to develop a portfolio of approaches to support and accelerate a sustainable transition in the fashion industry by providing companies with a reference framework and tools to move their production methods, internal procedures and end products towards more sustainable, less energy-consuming and less polluting models.

The project launches a call to support a fashion brand in its transformation towards a more sustainable practice.

One of the central elements of the Just Fashion project (coordinated by the fashion department of the University of Antwerp) is to conduct six pilot experiments focusing on different aspects of circularity. Five pilot cases have already been included in the proposal phase of the project, and the sixth pilot will be included through this call. The aim of the pilot cases within the project is to test different business models and technologies.

The results will be used to create climate transition plans and provide lessons and guidelines to help other (M)SMEs in their transition.

Criteria

• The case selected must pilot a new business model/technology not yet tested in one of the pilot projects already selected.
• The business model/technology tested must be linked to one (or more) of the themes of the Close the Loop tool.
• The business model/technology tested must promote ecological transition.
• The pilot project must collect, process and share experimental data.
• The selected pilot case must allocate appropriate resources to the contribution and execution of the pilot experiments, and is expected to support other work packages as part of the project.
• The project will run from June 2025 to November 2027, and pilots will be expected to participate actively in the project, both virtually and in person.

Applicant eligibility

This call is open to (M)SMEs in the fashion sector that:

• have been in business for at least one year and have their design and headquarters in Europe;
• have sustainable development as part of their value proposition or mission, or have made their first efforts in the area of sustainable development;
• are open to the idea of implementing, testing and improving technologies that promote ecological transition;
• are willing to adapt their business model and value chain, but lack the capacity and/or resources for this sustainable transformation;
• have an existing link with one of the consortium’s fashion intermediaries.