The Research Centre for Sustainable, Ethical & Circular Fashion and Textiles is situated within the Management Science Lab (MSL) at the Department of Management Science and Technology in Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB). Since 2015 the Centre for Sustainable Fashion is running a number of projects working on the transformation of the industry, the promotion of new supply chain and production models, new educational programs, especially for the development of green, ethical and sustainable supply chains, production processes, technological platforms and logistics. The Centre is coordinating circular fashion accelerator for SMEs,'Small but Perfect' (co-financed by the EU EISMEA COSME 2021-2023); it coordinates educational program 'Transparency Manager in the fashion industry' (co-financed by Erasmus+ 2022-2024), coordinates 'Social and Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurs-SOFE' (financed by EU Erasmus+ 2015-2017); runs and participates in various research, training, consulting, and campaigning activities.
AUEB is running the global Fashion Revolution Summer School an international 3 weeks program in collaboration with leading US and European universities. Learn more and apply
In 2021 the proposals that we wrote up and were approved for funding by Erasmus+:
- Women co-create sustainable fashion garments Erasmus+ 2021-1-SE01-KA220-ADU-000029427
- Transparency Manager in the Fashion Industry (TRA-MA) Erasmus+ 2021-1-EL01-KA220-VET-32985
- Social Growth for Circular Fashion Erasmus+ 2022-KA220-VET-8EE33C3C
And one by Helidoni Foundation based in Boston:
- Fashion Revolution Summer School
In 2020 we supported in co-write up Fashion Revolution Global team approved by EU COSME EIASME:
- Small-But-Perfect (SBP) 2021-COSME- 958060 Circular Fashion Accelerator
Other Active projects:
- (SBP) COSME 2021 958060 the RC is the Coordinator with 13 partners incl. Bocconi U, WFTO, FTAO, FR, Swedish Fashion Council, Impact Hub co-funded by EU EISMEA COSME. Accelerating small and medium fashion enterprises to transition to circular and sustainable models, accelerate the accelerators' by working alongside business support organisations to embed circularity, 'accelerate the policymakers' by mapping the policy landscape & organizing Policy Dialogues https://www.small-but-perfect.com/
- Fashion Revolution Summer School (FRSS) 2023-2028 the RC is the Coordinator in collaboration with leading Universities and sustainable fashion institutions from the USA, Europe and Latin America. A 3week program in Greece traveling fashion venues of the entire supply chain from raw material production to circular manufacturing. https://greece.fashionrevolution.org/en/summer/
Two (2) levels of study: the Professional Program & Student Program
Five (5) topic areas:- Sustainable Design & Materiality
- New Business Models, Circular Manufacturing & Logistics
- Digital Fashion & FashTech Hackathon
- Heritage & Ethics
- Policy
- Sustainable Fashion HUB the RC is the Coordinator in collaboration with the three national industry associations: the Hellenic Clothing Industry Association, the Thessalian Association of Clothing Industries and the Hellenic Association of Footwear Manufacturer and Exporters, the civil society organisation Fashion Revolution Greece and the social enterprise Social Fashion Factory-SOFFA. Connects, Incubates, Accelerates and Supports actors of the Greek circular supply chain
Our Team
Prof George Ioannou
Professor of Operations and Business Processes Management at the Department of Management Science and Technology at AUEB and CEO of the Greek Energy Stock Exchange Group with a strong focus on renewable energy. He is also the Director of the Management Sciences Laboratory. Head of the Operations Management and ERP Systems Research centre of the Lab.
He has been Assistant Professor at the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department of Virginia Tech and Head of the Manufacturing Systems Integration Laboratory there. His research is focused on the analysis, design and optimization of operations systems and business processes, combining advanced network and computational technologies with operational research models and methods. In parallel with his academic activities, he has important experience as business consultant and speaker in specialized seminars and lectures on subjects of his expertise, both in Greece and in the USA.
Dr Fiori A Zafeiropoulou
Social Entrepreneur, NGO Founder, Academic Lecturer & Fellow Researcher, Novel Writer, Policy Advisor & World Speaker in eradicating human trafficking in fashion supply chains and empowering women victims of slavery & women in risk of exploitation. Addressing climate change & re-generation of the environment through changing paradigms in fashion production, sourcing, and consumption.
Fiori has an awarded PHD on social entrepreneurship from Brunel Business School and is currently a postDoctoral Researcher in Managing Ethical & Green Supply Chains at the fashion Industry at Athens University of Economics & Business (AUEB). She is Project Managing the Research Centre on Sustainable Fashion and Textiles (FRFashtech) within Management Science Lab at AUEB. Founder & Country Coordinator of the local office in Greece of the global movement Fashion Revolution, the Coordinator of Raise Your Voice Festival co-organised by 56 State Bodies & NGOs to end human trafficking, the Founder of Social Fashion Factory - SOFFA.gr that targets gender empowerment and work integration of women victims of violence and the environmental regeneration, the Founder of 'Wear Your Origins' clothing brand and the rebirth of the iconic 'Zita Hellas' sneakers brand. She is also the Writer of the Novel "The Timeless Beach" by Kaktos Publications, a world speaker; her story has inspired various documentaries including One Over Many by Daphne Bengoa. She is the Executive Producer of TV Show 'Social Growth' at ERT TV Channel, the Founder of Refergon employment refugee matching platform, the Founder of The Nest Centre on Social Entrepreneurship; TEDx talks 'Unity, Ubuntu' TEDxNTUA 2021, 'Are you still dreaming how to be a Doer?” TEDx Alexandroupolis 2016. Her research has been published in international conferences and research books. She is a nominated member of the Green Woman Board Greek Ministry of Energy & Environment by the Minister's Office 9 March 2020. Ranked in 100TOP Women 2019 by Marie Claire Hellas
Eleni Mavrogeni
Eleni Mavrogeni is a Project Manager and Human Resources Manager at Wear Your Origins, a sustainable fashion brand with social and environmental impact. She is also an Assistant Project Manager for the European programs “CREATE” and “SoGFash” . She holds a diploma in Psychology and a Master's degree in International Human Resources Management.
Eleni has been a volunteer in various organizations with environmental action and wishes to raise awareness on the effects fast-fashion has on climate change and environmental pollution. Through her work she hopes to shed light on the importance of circular, zero waste clothing for a high-functioning sustainable and fair society.