Six countries — France, Sweden, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Türkiye — have joined forces under the TechStyle Erasmus+ Project to develop artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions for circular and regenerative fashion in the apparel and garment sector.
Funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ Programme, the initiative — titled TechStyle: AI-Driven Circular and Regenerative Fashion in VET Education — seeks to accelerate the digital and sustainable transformation of the fashion and textile industries. Türkiye’s Aegean Apparel Exporters Association (EHKİB) will represent the country in the project.
As Türkiye’s economy undergoes a disinflation phase, labour-intensive sectors such as apparel are turning to advanced technologies to remain globally competitive. The integration of AI is expected to strengthen efficiency, sustainability, and innovation across all stages of production, from design to manufacturing.
EHKİB Chair Burak Sertbaş said the project aligns with the European Union’s Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy and emerging AI regulations. He explained that TechStyle will prioritise digital transformation by introducing AI-supported solutions that improve raw material sourcing, reduce waste, and enhance production efficiency. Sertbaş noted that Sweden and France — both recognised for their progress in AI — would share best practices with Greece, Spain, Italy, and Türkiye, which possess strong textile traditions but require greater digital and green innovation.
He added that the two-year project, with a budget of €250,000, would also help enhance the digital capabilities of the apparel workforce and support the sector’s transition towards data-driven, AI-powered practices. Sertbaş said the initiative would make a “strong contribution” to the sustainable transformation of the garment industry.
The TechStyle Project will be officially launched in November 2025 at an opening meeting in France. Key objectives include developing a vocational training programme to integrate AI-driven models in apparel production, making the programme available to partner companies via the TechStyle Platform, and fostering AI-based entrepreneurship skills for women at the local level.
Nationally, the project aims to boost the apparel sector’s competitiveness, supporting both economic growth and export expansion. Aligned with the EU’s Sustainable and Circular Textiles Strategy, TechStyle is expected to accelerate the adoption of AI applications that promote a more sustainable, circular economy.
Through this initiative, apparel workers, designers, entrepreneurs, and new graduates in Türkiye’s Aegean Region will directly benefit from EU-level training programmes designed to equip them for the industry’s digital future.
