On 19–20 June 2025, Antwerp, Belgium hosted the Pilots Onboarding Workshop of the EU-funded Just Fashion project, bringing together partners from across Europe to kickstart one of the project’s most transformative phases: the implementation of its six pilot experiments.
Held at the historic City Campus of the University of Antwerp, the workshop marked a crucial milestone under the Horizon Europe programme, gathering representatives from fashion brands, regional development agencies, research centres, and EU networks. The event focused on preparing the six pilot companies—Xandres, Boboli, Luisa Cerano, Bastet Noir, Staff Jersey, and REAntwerp—to translate Just Fashion’s vision of a more circular and just fashion industry into real-world business models.
Over two intensive days, participants engaged in interactive sessions on business model innovation, climate risk assessment, and the role of Digital Product Passports (DPPs) in driving circularity and transparency in the sector. The agenda featured contributions from the University of Antwerp, EURECAT, and EFA, among others, as well as break-out workshops facilitated by the Project Management Office team.
A key highlight was the networking session with the Flemish Labs on Fibre project, reinforcing cross-initiative collaboration and knowledge exchange across textile innovation communities.
“Our pilots are shaping what fashion can look like when sustainability becomes the core business strategy.” said Prof. Dr. Annick Schramme, Project Coordinator and Chair at the University of Antwerp.
The workshop also set the stage for the pilots to develop Pilot Management Plans ahead of their first peer-to-peer exchange in September. As the pilots navigate challenges ranging from sourcing and traceability to customer engagement and climate adaptation, the Just Fashion project will support them with tailored tools, expertise, and access-to-finance guidance.
Just Fashion is funded under Horizon Europe and contributes directly to the goals of the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and the EU Green Deal.
