The GENERATION FUTURE educational program in partnership with The PVH Foundation and PVH Corp. [NYSE: PVH]was launched by the Fashion Council Germany last year to provide students with exceptional educational opportunities.
Since it started last summer, numerous secondary schools across Germany have been visited, which have a high proportion of diversity. A total of around 1,900 students have taken part in the program to date and have then been given the opportunity to put the knowledge they have acquired to the test in a test. From all the tests completed, 24 students with the best results were invited to the “Fashion Future” conference this November, which the Fashion Council Germany is organizing together with The Prince’s Foundation on the foundation’s “Dumfries House” estate in the south of Scotland. There they have the opportunity to engage more intensively with fashion and to make contacts with like-minded students from all over Germany.
“Together with our partner The PVH Foundation, we are keen to give the next generation of talent, but also consumers, access to educational opportunities and show them the importance of dealing with fashion. The aim is particularly to convey an understanding of the effects of the fashion industry in order to be more aware of them in everyday life and, if possible, to implement them yourself,” emphasizes Scott Lipinski, CEO of the Fashion Council Germany.
Thematically, the teaching units were divided into three main focuses: the ecological impact, the social significance and the diverse career opportunities of the fashion industry. When it came to school supplies, the Fashion Council Germany was supported by diversity and sustainability experts, including Carina Bischof, co-founder and chairwoman of Fashion Revolution Germany, Dogukan Nesanir, independent stylist and consultant, and Nina Lorenzen, co-founder of Fashion Changers. In addition to the school lessons, five webinars took place in which the students could participate online. Here too, the focus was on the ecological and social impacts of the fashion industry as well as career opportunities for prospective trainees and high school graduates.
“The “FUTURE GENERATION” has the chance to solve the problems of fast fashion and explore alternative paths that are based on fair production conditions, respect for people and nature and sustainable consumption. The project positively activates young people for sustainable fashion,” says Martina Glomb , fashion designer and professor at Hannover University on her commitment to GENERATION ZUKUNFT.
Sema Gedik (Founder ON AUGENHOEHE) comments: “Educational projects like GENERATION FUTURE are particularly important because imparting knowledge about the ecological and social impacts of the fashion industry as well as about diversity and inclusion offers students the opportunity to become conscious consumers to have a positive impact on the industry.”
“GENERATION FUTURE: The foundation for Germany’s future in the fashion sector. In our modern and fast-moving world, it is essential to show young people real perspectives. In the age of social media, however, it is difficult to perceive or even find comprehensible and authentic role models. By acting as role models and actively approaching, involving and inspiring this target group, we have a very important influence on the development and future lives of these young people. During the discussions and workshops within this project, I learned and saw first-hand that this project is more important than ever for this generation,” says entrepreneur and inclusion consultant Michaela Leitz.
The following experts took part in the project together with the Fashion Council Germany and contributed their experience: Ariane Piper (activist, sustainability consultant and country coordinator at Fashion Revolution Germany e. V.), Carina Bischof (managing director and board member at Fashion Revolution Germany e. V.). .), Dogukan Nesanir (Freelance Stylist & Creative Consultant), Janice Faith Heinrich (Junior Editor Daddy Magazine), Kemi Fatoba (Founder Daddy Magazine & Consultancy), Martina Glomb (Fashion Designer & Design Professor), Michael Pfeifer (Co-Founder & CEO MOOT), Michaela Leitz (CEO & Founder Michaela Leitz Confidence & Style), Nina Lorenzen (Co-Founder Fashion Changers), Sema Gedik (FounderAuf AUGENHOEHE), Sydney Nwakanma (Founder EMEKA) and Thị Minh Huyền Nguyễn (Freelance Author) .
The program will enter its second round after the summer holidays in late summer.