Fashion & Food: Synergies for Sustainability

The importance of sustainability has long since taken root in our minds. There are our personal aspirations to keep our individual ecological footprints small so that we can leave our beautiful Styria intact for the next generation. Then there are the ideas and investments from companies—ranging from one-person operations to large corporations—aimed at improving energy efficiency, which the SFG is happy to support with grants. And there are the political goals outlined in major strategic documents like the European Green Deal that influence all of our actions and economic activities.

What’s new, however, is just how much the food and fashion industries can learn from each other when it comes to sustainability. These two sectors are comparable in some respects and have a major impact on the Styrian economy. Both industries serve similar niche and mass markets—ranging from fast food and fast fashion to the immeasurable luxury of fine dining or high-end fashion. Both industries wield significant cultural influence. Or can you think of a Styrian wine tavern or Lena Hoschek’s studio without feeling a certain sense of Styrian pride? Both industries rely on raw materials—fabrics or food—and derive their value from their design. Many more overlaps could be mentioned here, but one final point is particularly important: Both industries are driven by the same environmental challenges and trends. Therefore, they have much to learn from one another.

As part of the Fashion&Food4Sustainability project, the shared challenges and trends facing both industries are being addressed. Environmental best practices from Styria, Italy, Greece, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland are being identified to scale up successful concepts. These best practices are being used by partner universities to develop e-learning courses for students. In this way, valuable knowledge can be passed on to a new generation of business leaders. The project is being implemented with financial support from the European Union totaling approximately 382,000 euros.

Objectives

• Identification of future trends and synergies in the food and fashion industries
• Skill development based on actual industry needs in the areas of sustainability, the circular economy, and communication
• Establishment of a knowledge community for entrepreneurs, startups, and companies