New study identifies the competencies needed for regenerative fashion entrepreneurs
News
How can we prepare the next generation of fashion professionals for a future in which the fashion industry not only reduces its negative impact but actively restores ecosystems? This question lies at the heart of GEN-C (reGENerative Entrepreneurship Competencies for Fashion), an international Erasmus+ project led by the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS).
Together with the University of Galway, Ege University, Universidad de Vigo, and EOLAS, the project investigates the knowledge and skills future fashion entrepreneurs need to work regeneratively. As a first step, the research team analysed 105 academic publications in English, Dutch, Spanish, and Turkish.
Regenerative entrepreneurship requires new competencies
The literature review shows that regenerative entrepreneurship is still a relatively young field of research. Only 26% of the publications examined approach entrepreneurship from a regenerative perspective. Most studies continue to focus on sustainability and circularity, while regenerative entrepreneurship goes a step further by actively restoring ecosystems, resources, and value chains.
The analysis identified nine key knowledge areas and competencies. Systems thinking emerged as the most frequently cited competency. Notably, two themes that distinguish regenerative entrepreneurship from circular entrepreneurship, place-based knowledge and social justice, receive relatively little attention in both research and education.
From research to education
One of the study's main conclusions is that we are gaining a better understanding of which competencies future professionals need, but we still know relatively little about how students can develop these competencies or how educators can assess them.
This is precisely where GEN-C aims to make a difference. Building on these findings, the consortium will develop an evidence-based competency framework and curriculum to help higher education prepare the next generation of fashion professionals for a regenerative future.