Threads of Change is a transnational project promoting sustainable and circular textile practices by linking local action with EU policy development. The project addresses the environmental, social and economic impacts of fast fashion and textile waste, supporting a just and inclusive transition towards a circular textile economy in Southeast Europe.

The project pursues three core objectives:
    1. raising awareness and educating communities about sustainable fashion and EU textile policies
    2. fostering active citizen participation in policymaking and supporting local implementation of EU policies
    3. strengthening inclusive participation in circular fashion, with a particular focus on women and persons with disabilities.

Through fashion labs, repair and upcycling workshops, advocacy activities and circular economy pilot actions, the project will empower 785 citizens, 110 small businesses, 41 public authorities and 40 representatives of marginalized groups. Special attention is given to communities that play a key role in reuse and repair practices but are often excluded from decision-making processes.

Working with public authorities, businesses and civil society organisations, the project will co-create policy recommendations aligned with the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles and the Waste Framework Directive, ensuring that EU policies are both ambitious and practically applicable at local level.

Expected outcomes include increased public awareness, stronger citizen participation in policymaking, improved repair and upcycling skills, innovative circular business models, concrete legislative proposals, and greater inclusion of marginalized groups in sustainability decisions. Project deliverables include international conferences, policy roundtables, workshops, campaigns, policy papers and an EU-level Zero Waste Fashion Call.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program: CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme

Funder: European Union (European Commission)

Project coordinator: Zelena Istra (Croatia)

Project partners: 

• Ekologi brez meja (Slovenia)
• Zelena akcija (Croatia)
• KNOF (Slovenia)
• Faculty of Textile Technology (Croatia)

Project associates:

• Technology Park Ljubljana  (Slovenia)
• Ekotekstil (Slovenia)
• Zero Waste Europe
   

Total project budget: EUR 229,780.00

Project duration: 1 January 2026 – 31 December 2027

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the EACEA can be held responsible for them.