The Erasmus+ Blueprint project is accelerating efforts to modernize skills and education in Europe’s Textile, Clothing, Leather and Footwear (TCLF) industries. On 20–21 January, project partners from met in Kraków, Poland, to review progress and coordinate the next steps of this large-scale European initiative.

Building Strong Networks to Support Skills Development

A central goal of METASKILLS4TCLF is to strengthen cooperation between education providers, industry stakeholders, and public authorities. Several networks are currently being established to support this mission, including:

• a European Network of TCLF Education Providers promoting excellence in training,
• a European Network of Regional Public Authorities committed to modernising TCLF education,
• Regional Alliances, such as regional TCLF Pacts for Skills, driven by public private partnerships.

Together, these initiatives aim to secure a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting both current and future industry needs.

Innovative Learning Resources and Immersive Technologies

Ten TCLF education providers within the project are jointly developing new multilingual learning resources designed to close the gap between industry demands and educational offerings in VET and higher education. These include:

• e books and online courses,
• an Augmented Reality (AR) application,
• virtual reality (VR) training modules for VR headsets.

Another major development is the European Virtual Fashion Campus, a new platform that will offer a wide range of free, non immersive educational resources for students and workers.

The project will additionally establish twelve Metaverse Labs across Europe, where students will experience real TCLF work environments through VR headsets. Learning activities will be available in both single player and multiplayer modes, with teachers guiding students through practical scenarios.

Inspiring Young People to Join the TCLF Sectors

With many companies facing an ageing workforce and challenges in attracting young talent, METASKILLS4TCLF is launching several initiatives to inspire the next generation. These include:

• holiday workshops for children,
• open days at training centres,
• interviews with industry professionals.

Participating countries will also organise national fashion contests, leading up to an international final. The four winning students will be invited to present prototypes of their designs at the prestigious MICAM Milano trade fair.

Supporting the Labour Market Integration of Migrants

Another important objective of the project is to facilitate migrant integration into the labour market. To achieve this, METASKILLS4TCLF is developing a web based tool to support early identification, validation, and recognition of skills through multilingual and accessible profiles and CVs. This tool aims to improve communication, support smoother transitions into employment, and better match skills with training and job opportunities across Europe.

Stay updated on the progress of METASKILLS4TCLF by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram, or by subscribing to our newsletter.

Go to gallery