ZDHC meets future sustainability managers in fashion: a positive and motivating educational experience!
Project attributes:
- Project initiative: ZDHC curriculum integration in higher education
- Project timeline: ongoing
- In collaboration with: Ritex and ITS COSMO Fashion Academy
- Project beneficiaries: ITS COSMO Fashion Academy
- Organisation type: educational institution
Between 2022 and 2024, the ZDHC Academy partnered with Ritex, one of ZDHC’s Approved Solution Providers, and ITS COSMO, a higher technical fashion institute based in Italy, to promote sustainability in fashion education.
Recognizing the growing importance of sustainability in fashion, ITS Cosmo expanded its educational offerings by including a two-year programme and introduced a "Fashion Sustainability Manager" curriculum. Ritex led three educational units in this new programme, focusing on chemical management and sustainable practices.
The training programme comprised two stages. The first featured Elisa Gavazza, ZDHC Southern Europe Director, providing an overview of ZDHC and its goals. In the second session, Dr. Carla Sperotto from Ritex led a course on "Introduction to Chemical Management," addressing the textile industry's need for such management in the industry. Students were highly engaged, gaining valuable insights.
Students who participated in this programme expressed their enthusiasm and described their experiences by offering fresh perspectives and insights. Upon completing the training exam, 72 students received a ZDHC training certificate, enhancing their professional prospects. The success of the program led to continued collaboration between ZDHC, Ritex, ITS COSMO and ZDHC Academy. The Fashion Academy acknowledged the project's benefits, with the General Director, Roberto Gigliotti, emphasising the added value of engaging with ZDHC. As sustainability is a fundamental aspect for the future of the fashion industry, further collaborations and making sustainability a cross-cutting theme in upcoming academic projects is a logical next step for the organisations.
This project paves the way for further collaboration, aiming to embed sustainability into future academic projects and industry partnerships, with a focus on sustainable chemical management and responsible fashion production.
“Thanks to the ITS Cosmo course and Ritex laboratory, I had the opportunity to obtain the ZDHC training certificate, enriching both my academic journey and my skills within the textile sector. Currently, working at Ritex provides me with the extraordinary perspective of being directly involved in managing chemical substances in textile manufacturing processes, allowing me to further deepen my knowledge of compliance with ZDHC standards. This hands-on experience not only solidifies my preparation but also gives me the chance to apply the skills acquired during the course, actively contributing to the promotion of sustainable and responsible practices in the textile industry.” - Student
Have a look at the video for an Interview with the President & General Manager of ITS Cosmo. Our courses take place in the heart of the main production districts specialised in Fashion Made in Italy, in order to guarantee the best match between the educational path and the search for young talented qualified workers. (Roberto Gigliotti - General Manager ITS COSMO).