COUTURE

    • Capacity Building, Culture and Creativity, Innovation in Education

COUTURE- Culture Couture- Merging Fashion and Tradition for Sustainable Style

Funding Programme: ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE
Duration: 24 months
Overall Budget: 359,549 EUR
Countries: Albania, Kosovo, Greece, North Macedonia
Project Number: 101129271
Project Website: www.coutureproject-eu.com
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555269047019
Description:
The “COUTURE” project focuses on merging traditional Balkan arts—such as weaving, embroidery, and knitting—with contemporary fashion design education. It aims to develop innovative educational modules that integrate these traditional skills into the curricula of participating universities in the Western Balkans. By providing both theoretical and practical training, the project seeks to enhance the employability of students in the fashion industry, while also promoting cross-border collaboration between universities in the Balkans and the EU. In addition to fostering cultural awareness and appreciation for Balkan heritage, the project emphasizes inclusivity by ensuring that marginalized groups are actively involved in the training programs. The project will also assess the impact of these initiatives on students’ skills and job prospects, with a commitment to sharing the results and best practices with stakeholders in the fashion and education sectors. Through these efforts, “COUTURE” aims to contribute to the sustainable growth of the fashion industry and the preservation of traditional arts in the region.

Objectives:
● Develop modules that integrate traditional arts into fashion design curricula.
● Offer training to boost job prospects in fashion design.
● Promote knowledge-sharing among universities in the Balkans and EU.
● Raise awareness of Balkan traditions in modern fashion design.
● Assess impact and disseminate findings to relevant sectors.
● Ensure training programs are inclusive.
● Support the preservation of traditional arts through education.

Expected Results:
● Development of five modules integrating traditional arts into fashion design curricula.
● Improved job prospects for students by equipping them with unique skills in traditional arts.
● Strengthened partnerships between Western Balkans and EU universities.
● Increased awareness and appreciation of Balkan cultural heritage in modern fashion.
● Inclusion of marginalized groups in fashion design training.
● Promotion and preservation of traditional arts through education.

Activities:
● Oversee administrative, financial, and technical aspects of the project.
● Develop five modules on traditional arts for fashion design and conduct training for trainers and students.
● Test and evaluate the new modules in Kosovo and Albania, gather feedback, and prepare for accreditation.
● Implement a Quality Assurance Plan, monitor progress, and conduct external evaluations.
● Promote project outcomes through a website, newsletters, and a final conference, ensuring long-term sustainability.

Project Partners:
● Universum College (UC), Kosovo
● University of Prishtina (UP), Kosovo
● European University of Tirana (UET), Albania
● Polis University (UP), Albania
● Harokopio University of Athens (HUA), Greece
● Mother Teresa University (MTU), North Macedonia
● UET Center, Albania
● Kosovo Apparel Marketing Association (KAMA), Kosovo