The workshop was organised by the REuseLab team at the University of Antwerp, a practice-oriented team supporting organisations in their transition towards a circular economy. REuseLab works across several domains, including textiles and fashion, combining scientific and multidisciplinary expertise with practical, data-driven approaches to help organisations develop solutions that promote reuse, repair, longer product lifetimes and reduced waste.
The workshop combined scientific insights with an interactive co-creation activity aimed at addressing key challenges encountered by companies in their sustainability transition. The central theme focused on navigating conflicting dynamics within sustainable fashion. The session was facilitated by doctoral researcher Nasira Ahsan, who presented her conflict taxonomy framework and used the workshop as an opportunity to further validate her academic findings. The programme was complemented by a lecture from doctoral researcher Marie Das, who shared insights from her doctoral research on consumer perceptions of quality in repair, reuse, and second-hand products. In addition, doctoral researcher Lotte Van den Broeck delivered a presentation on innovative bio-based materials derived from mycelium, highlighting emerging opportunities for sustainable material innovation within the fashion sector. As members of the REuseLab, all three researchers combined academic expertise with practical perspectives, providing participants with valuable insights into contemporary sustainability challenges and opportunities. Together, their contributions underscored the importance of more collaborative, informed, and impactful approaches to advancing sustainable fashion. (not sure about the last sentence, maybe can be removed?)
Representing Just Fashion, Prof. Dr. Annick Schramme, Coordinator of the project, contributed to the programme with a lecture entitled “Fashion & Sustainability: a European Perspective”, which summarized the current and evolving EU policy landscape under the EU strategy for circular and sustainable textiles. Her contribution highlighted the broader European context of the fashion sector’s sustainability transition and complemented the workshop’s practical focus on supporting companies in developing impactful sustainability initiatives.
The participation of sustainability managers and experts from Belgian fashion and textile brands provided a valuable opportunity for knowledge exchange between research and industry, strengthening connections with practitioners directly engaged in sustainability challenges and the transition towards more sustainable and circular business models.
Participation in the REuseLab workshop forms part of Just Fashion’s broader engagement and knowledge-sharing activities, helping to connect the project’s research with relevant industry stakeholders. A big thank you to REuseLab for creating this valuable opportunity for dialogue and collaboration around the future of sustainable and circular fashion.
