Athens
Fabrix’s activities focus on two case study cities, Rotterdam and Athens. With its vibrant fashion and artisanal production, here’s why Athens is a good example for this project and how you can get involved.
About the Renaissance of Athens’ Textile and Clothing Ecosystem
Legacy and Transformation / Once the cornerstone of Greece’s economic prosperity, Athens' textile and clothing (T&C) industry experienced its golden age between 1975 and 1995, contributing significantly to the country's exports and employing a substantial portion of the workforce. This era was characterized by a vibrant and dynamic sector that was later challenged by global shifts in manufacturing to more cost-effective regions, resulting in a notable decline. However, since 2015, a resurgence has been evident, underpinned by Greece's dominant role in European cotton production, renowned for its quality and sustainability. Traditional Greek textile and fashion production techniques as well as symbols of Greek culture as sources of inspiration have known in recent years international recovery and recognition. Similarly, in recent years we see some Greek designers and Greek luxury brands gaining an international presence and recognition.
In recent years, Athens has seen an encouraging trend towards sustainability and innovation within the T&C sector. Young entrepreneurs, driven by the country's high youth unemployment rates, have been at the forefront of this transformation. Leveraging Greece's rich textile tradition and its status as a significant cotton producer, these pioneers are crafting circular and regenerative business models. The needs of these young entrepreneurs has in fact spurred the development of a Sustainable and Circular HUB in Athens, an initiative by AUEB, Fashion Revolution Greece, and SOFFA that brings together different industry players the majority of which are based in Athens.
Challenges and Opportunities / The Greek T&C landscape today is marked by a juxtaposition of traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation. The innovative young entrepreneurs are driven by sustainable practices but encounter significant hurdles in high production costs, sourcing of sustainable materials, and isolation from broader marketplaces. Moreover, the overarching issues of bureaucracy, an unstable tax framework, and limited support for entrepreneurship exacerbate these challenges. Concurrently, the need for a shift towards sustainable and ethical production has never been more apparent. The alarming statistics on modern slavery and environmental concerns underscore the urgency for change.
The FABRIX solution / Recognizing the challenges faced by the fragmented T&C ecosystem in Athens, our initiative seeks to unify efforts towards sustainability and innovation. The project envisions a cohesive community that leverages Athens' historical strengths in textile production while addressing the contemporary demands for sustainability and ethical practices.
The stakeholders
The T&C ecosystem in Athens includes circular fashion brands, manufacturers, regenerative farming thread producers, upcycling brands, thrift shops, swap platforms, rentals, cultural art and cultural heritage projects, weavers knitting fabrics made of recyclable plastic, mills producing sustainable Greek cotton yarn, plastic recycling plants for textile yarn production, textile hemp cultivation projects and other textile plants, research projects for the development of new regenerative fibers from the recycling of agricultural scrap.
Specifically, we would like to highlight some innovative stakeholders who could be involved in the project as a way to recognize their work and suggest to similar projects, persons or companies to join us:
Circular business models / the upcycling of house awnings waste to produce bags and accessories by 3Quarters, upcycling plastic to create sandals and clothing by Eating the Goober, recycling fishnets from the Aegean Sea by Healthy Seas, the development of fiber from peach fruit waste by the University of West-Attica.
Cultural heritage brands / Wear Your Origins by SOFFA, SwapPlanet, Wardorbly rental app, Kiloshop a thrift shop in downtown Athens, and swimwear made from recycled plastic by VV Conscious brand.
Sustainable urban micro-manufacturing studios / such as SOFFA, a tailoring production studio in downtown Athens, a social cooperative enterprise for the work integration of women victims of violence and populations at risk of exclusion (refugees, migrants, ex-addicts, prior incarcerated) in circular manufacturing processes.
Industry Associations / the Hellenic Association of Fashion Designers, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Craftsmanship, the 3 manufacturing industry associations of footwear ELSEVIE and of clothing SEPEE, SKEE, the Federation of Greek Textile Industrialists SEVK, the Silk Producers who promote the RESILK made from waste.
Civil Society Organisations / Fashion Revolution Greece, the biggest fashion movement calling for transformation in the industry, Eco Fashion HUB sustainable fashion marketplace, Benaki Museum of Cultural Art and Cultural heritage projects like ROOTS from the Ethnological Museum of Thrace.
Contact partner in Athens
If you’re working in the T&C industry in the Athens area at any level, or are part of a supply chain that might be integrated with the textile, clothing, and fashion chain, please get in touch with the local Fabrix partners:
Soffa Fashion Factory / Athens University of Economics and Business, Dr Fiori Zafeiropoulou fzafeiropoulou@aueb.gr
Cedecs-TCBL, Takis Lybereas, takis@cedecs-tcbl.eu