Seam the Change: Athens Fashion Hackathon — Day 2 Highlights

14 November 2025

The second day of the Seam the Change: Athens Fashion Hackathon brought the energy of innovation and collaboration to life at Impact Hub Athens, as participants moved from policy insights to active co-creation.

Hosted within the framework of the DigiFashTech project, the event gathered participants from eight European cities — Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Milan, Bolzano, Padova, and Stockholm — representing a diverse community of designers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and educators.

Building on the conceptual foundation established during Day 1, Day 2 marked the transition from ideas to implementation. The day began with a policy recap by Policy Lab, followed by a FABRIX self-assessment session led by IHA and AUEB, enabling participants to explore how digital tools can support circular fashion innovation. The Ideas Agora provided a dynamic space for brainstorming and team formation, as participants aligned around shared challenges and opportunities.

In the afternoon, teams were introduced to the mentor network, a group of distinguished professionals and academics offering expert support throughout the hackathon. The mentor and expert table included: Ludovica d’Andria (Fashion Revolution, Italy), Catherine Dauriac (FR, France), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Zeynep Ömeroğulları Başyiğit (Bursa University), Livia Stroschoen Pinent (AMFI), Dr. Deniz Köksal (Head of Fashion Management, AMFI/UAS Amsterdam), Garyfalia Pitsaki (FR, Greece), Dr. Fiori A. Zafeiropoulou (FR Greece / SOFFA), Svetlana Bogova Jovanovska (MFA, North Macedonia), Emilija Slavkova (3D Fashion Designer and Professor, North Macedonia), Aleksandra Filipova (Designer and Art Director, 3D Factory BlackBello, North Macedonia), Zoi Gaitanarou (ETEKA/CERTH), Aloisia Åkerman Sandberg (WLY Sweden, Digital Fashion), Emmanuela Sfiroera (UNIWA), Varvara Bogiari (FR, Thessaloniki), Katerina Frentzou (Cultural Heritage Specialist).

The mentors’ diverse expertise — spanning sustainability, policy, education, fashion management, and digital design — provided invaluable guidance as participants refined their concepts during hacking sessions and mentor clinics.

The day’s activities also featured startup presentations, showcasing innovative approaches to digital fashion, circular business models, and technological integration. Each team applied insights from the FABRIX platform to structure and test their ideas, reflecting DigiFashTech’s mission to bridge creativity, technology, and sustainability.

Day 2 concluded on a high note, filled with momentum and anticipation for the final stage of the hackathon. As ideas evolved into actionable solutions, the collaborative spirit of the event continued to strengthen — embodying DigiFashTech’s vision of empowering a new generation of changemakers in the fashion and textile industries.

Stay tuned for highlights from Day 3, where teams will deliver their final pitches and celebrate the culmination of three days of innovation and co-creation!