The SiT International Bootcamp brings together the European textile ecosystem in Greece to promote sustainable solutions
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The SiT International Bootcamp brings together the European textile ecosystem in Greece to promote sustainable solutions

The European SiT – Sustainability in TCLF project held its international bootcamp on 26 and 27 May in Thessaloniki, Greece. This activity marked the closing stage of the pilot programme developed in Spain within the work package led by FPEmpresa and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona. The event brought together around 80 participants from the different countries involved in the project partnership, including companies, clusters, associations, Vocational Education and Training teachers, students, entrepreneurs and sector representatives.

The activity took place at WEHub in Thessaloniki, with organisational support from OECON Group, and revolved around three main themes: sustainability, digitalisation and entrepreneurship applied to the TCLF ecosystem, which includes the textile, clothing, leather and footwear sectors. The bootcamp combined collaborative work, idea development, proposal presentations and professional networking spaces among participants.

The first day began with a hybrid session broadcast via streaming, during which the work agenda, the SiT project and the composition of the international teams were presented. The hackathon then began, with five teams working on previously defined case studies through different stages: challenge definition, ideation, solution design, business model development and preparation of the final pitch.

Real challenges to transform the textile sector

During the hackathon, the teams addressed challenges linked to textile circularity and the reduction of environmental impact in different areas of the sector. One of the cases involved designing a circular system for sports kits, with the aim of reducing textile waste while maintaining brand identity, performance and commercial viability.

Another challenge focused on the sustainable management of hotel textiles, proposing solutions to reduce environmental footprint, comply with European regulations on textile waste and move towards models based on reuse, traceability, recycling and material recovery.

After the team work, participants presented their proposals to a jury in a hybrid session. Each team had a limited amount of time to defend its idea, explain the value of the proposed solution and receive the corresponding assessment, in a dynamic aimed at strengthening both entrepreneurial skills and the communication of sustainable projects.

The bootcamp continued on 27 May with a Patchwork Workshop, a practical activity in which participants worked with reused textiles and other available materials, using sewing machines and with the support of expert technicians. In parallel, a professional speed-dating session was held, linked to the fields of textiles, clothing, leather and footwear, with the aim of facilitating mutual knowledge and the creation of new connections among participants.

A winning proposal to respond to the sector’s challenges

The event also included the selection of the winning project, a proposal from Centro Integrado Donibane focused on the circular management of hotel textiles. The team presented a solution aimed at reducing the environmental impact generated by bed linen and other textile waste from the sector, combining the classification and monitoring of garments through artificial intelligence, the reuse and recycling of materials, and the development of a new sustainable fibre with a lower environmental impact.

According to Emilia María García Vera, representative of the winning team, “the project has allowed us to work on a real problem. We are not talking about distant ideas, but about solutions that are already necessary, because European regulations are moving towards models in which everything must be more recyclable and sustainable. For students, it is very important to discover new fibres and new textures, and to understand from the outset where the textile sector is heading.”

With this activity, the SiT project closes the Spanish pilot by strengthening the connection between Vocational Education and Training, companies and real challenges in the TCLF sector. The bootcamp made it possible to transfer the learning developed during the previous phases to an international collaborative working environment, consolidating an experience aimed at promoting more innovative and sustainable VET, closely connected to the green and digital transition.

SiT concludes Phase 3 in Spain with a training experience in the Italian fashion ecosystem
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SiT concludes Phase 3 in Spain with a training experience in the Italian fashion ecosystem

The European SiT project (Sustainability in TCLF) has completed Phase 3 in Spain, focused on Work-Based Learning, through the organisation of an international agenda in Italy aimed at Vocational Education and Training students and teachers from the professional field of Textiles, Clothing and Leather. This stage was once again coordinated by FPEmpresa and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona (CCIB), with the support and organisation of the Politecnico Calzaturiero in Vigonza, a leading institution in specialised technical training for the textile, footwear and leather goods sectors.

Following the completion of Phase 2 of the pilot programme in Spain, which focused on specialised training and the development of sustainable business plans, this third phase has made it possible to take a further step in connecting education and industry. The student mobility took place from 3 to 16 May 2026 and included a two-week face-to-face training programme in Italy.

During the first week, students worked on content related to knitwear, such as trends, materials, weaving techniques, machinery, printing, finishing and knitwear pattern-making. The second week focused on footwear and leather goods, covering aspects such as footwear construction, materials, prototyping, hand stitching, the manufacture of leather goods products and applied digitalisation.

In parallel, 12 teachers took part in a job shadowing stay from 3 to 9 May, aimed at gaining first-hand insight into the Italian Vocational Education and Training model and the relationship between training centres, companies and the industrial district. The programme included observation activities in knitwear, footwear and leather goods workshops, as well as content related to sustainability, transversal skills, 2D and 3D digital design tools — used to create and develop patterns, prototypes and products before manufacturing — and artificial intelligence applied to creativity.

An immersion in the Italian value chain

The experience combined training sessions, company visits and cultural activities linked to the productive identity of the region. During the first week, 15 students and 12 teachers took part in activities at the Politecnico Calzaturiero, visits to the Villa Foscarini Museum, Tessitura Bevilacqua and Mocenigo Palace, as well as to companies such as Henderson and OTS. The programme also included an event at Villa Pisani focused on the Riviera del Brenta and its relationship with design, beauty, culture and identity.

The second week, aimed at students, explored technical and sustainability-related content in greater depth through sessions on eco-design, sustainability, knitwear processes, footwear design and garment making. In addition, Villa Foscarini Rossi hosted a meeting on corporate sustainability, focused on eco-design, quality and durability as values within the Italian supply chain (ESG).

Thanks to this third phase of the project, students have been able to gain insight into real production processes, learn about different specialisations within the sector and understand how sustainability, digitalisation and innovation are transforming the textile, clothing, leather and footwear industries. For teachers, the mobility represented an opportunity to observe applied training methodologies and explore possible transfers to the Spanish educational context.

Although Phase 3 has now concluded in Spain, the SiT project remains active in other participating countries. In the Spanish case, this stage strengthens the pathway initiated through online training and the projects developed in previous phases, consolidating an approach that connects learning, business and the green and digital transition.

Finally, the Spanish pilot of Work Package 4 of the SiT project will culminate with the international bootcamp in Greece, linked to Phase 2 and held during the week of 25 May. This final activity will bring together the people selected within the pathway developed in Spain and will serve as the closing stage of the process promoted by FPEmpresa and the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Barcelona.