7 SMEs participated in the CLOTH project ClusterXchange in Florence and Prato January 2024
The CLOTH project ClusterXchange visit organised around the PITTI UOMO fair in Florence took place from 8th to 12th January 2024. 7SMEs took part in this short-term exchange in the EU supported CLOTH Project.
CLOTH Project, the European alliance which brings together individuals, companies and clusters working on the transformation of the fashion sector towards sustainability and digital organized its last ClusterXchange event in Florence and Prato, Italy. It took place from 8th to 12th January 2024with the participation of 7 SMEs from Bulgaria.
The ClusterXchange mobility scheme programme aims to facilitate the exchanges of experiences and best practices among SMEs and clusters. The ClusterXChange in Florence and Prato included a visit to Pitti Uomo trade fair to research sustainable and innovative brands for clothing and accessories and to learn about the fashion trends.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVES WERE to learn and share knowledge about the:
- Sustainable and circular fashion at the most popular Italian trade fair for men’s fashion – Pitti Uomo
- Learning about fashion trends 2024
- Learning about Italian fashion and crafts
- Learning about the activities of OTIR2020-Tuscany Fashion Cluster
- Finding new partners in Italy
During the ClusterXChange event the participants visited PITTI UOMO – one of the world’s most important fashion fairs for men’s clothing and accessory, collections and for launching new projects in men’s fashion.
The SMEs had the possibility to visit some specific sustainable brands:
- 959 NINEFIVENINE – an eco-design line, composed of pieces made with upcycled car seatbelts
- Fornari – manufacture of scarves and ties
- Got Bag – the world’s first backpack made of Ocean Impact Plastic
- Hul le Kes – a Dutch circular and social fashion brand
- CARL GROSS – create men‘s clothing, which stands out from the crowd with Italian stylistics, German fit certainty and quality.
- Campomaggi bag
- Joseph Cheaney and Sons – traditional english shoes
- Altemflower shirts
- Alea – men’s shirts and Italian style
- Brunello Cucinelli – an Italian maison operating in the absolute luxury goods sector which specializes in cashmere and in the international informal luxury pret-à-porter sector.
- Belvest – men’s fashion Innovation
At the fair the companies also visited different sustainable men’s wear sections as Fantastic Classic, Futuro Maschile and the VINTAGE HUB Circular Fashion.
The SMEs also had the possibility to visit Polymoda Fashion School as well as Accademia Italiana. During the visit they met fashion designers, saw their classes, production facilities and fashion collections made from sustainable materials. At Polymoda they also saw a sustainable production of hats, which keeps this artisan tradition alive.
The program included a visit to the Museum of Costume and Fashion. The museum vaunts over 6,000 pieces of courtly and gala attire, including high-fashion pieces, ready-to-wear clothing, uniforms and theater costumes. Presents works by the most esteemed designers of the 20th century, including Armani, Missoni, Valentino, Versace and Saint Laurent.
Host of the ClusterXchange was OTIR Tuscany Fashion Cluster – Next Technology Technotessile – a private/public research centre located in Prato. The cluster made a presentation of latest technologies for innovation and circularity and pre-processing for recycling of textiles.
In Prato the participants went also to The Museo del Tessuto – the largest cultural centre in Italy dedicated to the promotion of historical and contemporary textile production and art.
About CLOTH
CLOTH project – CLuster Alliance fOr the Transition to green and digital fasHion – is a new alliance aiming to create a favorable ecosystem of relevant stakeholders, from a cross-sectoral perspective, promoting a greener, smarter and more competitive and innovative European Fashion industry.
The CLOTH project is an integrated cross-sectoral partnership with 5 partners from 5 European countries (Spain, Bulgaria, Romania, Denmark and France) working on different value chains: Fashion and Textile, circular economy, creative industry and Digital.
During the EU supported CLOTH Project will be organized minimum 100 short-term exchanges between targeted members of clusters located in other countries.
The CLOTH project is funded by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), under the powers delegated by the European Commission, COSME programme, call COS-CLUSTER-2020-3-03 / COS-CLUSTER-2020-3-03-1 (European Cluster Excellence Programme with ClusterXchange scheme connecting ecosystems and cities).
For more information: https://clothproject.eu/
DISCALIMER
The content of this document represents the views of the author only and is his/her sole responsibility; it cannot be considered to reflect the views of the European Commission and/or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency(EISMEA) or any other body of the European Union. The European Commission and the Agency do not accept any responsibility for use that may be made of the information it contains.
