A new understanding of fashion education is emerging at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Lisbon. Students here not only learn how to develop digital patterns, conduct virtual fittings, and visualize complete collections using industry-standard software like CLO3D, but they also design their own avatars, create poses, and stage virtual fashion shows. This is complemented by the use of AI tools and the exploration of new digital business models – a curriculum that combines technical excellence with creative future thinking.

“The FashionTEX project opened my eyes to the possibilities that digital fashion, digital prototyping, and other textile technologies can offer young designers,” says Ana Neves, a fashion student in Lisbon.

She is one of those using the Atelier courses to tell personal and imaginative stories. Her project, “A Maestrina,” imagines a future in which Portugal disappears due to rising sea levels. The protagonist, a conductor, must build a new life on Spanish soil. By combining classic white-tie evening wear with Spanish cultural influences, Ana artistically explores loss, identity, and resilience, connecting memory with imagination through digital fashion.

The teachers are also experiencing this transformation firsthand. “Through CLO3D, the students have not only developed technical skills, but also gained the confidence to explore and express their creative vision in new ways,” explains Michele Santos, a lecturer at the University of Lisbon. A profound shift in thinking and working practices is observable: Digital tools enable rapid prototyping, reduce material waste, and provide practical preparation for the demands of the fashion industry. Today’s theses combine aesthetic innovations with technological expertise and strong storytelling—skills that are essential in the digital age.

FashionTEX Atelier: Training for the Future of Fashion

The fashion industry is undergoing profound change, shaped by technology, sustainability, and new forms of expression. At the heart of this transformation is the FashionTEX Atelier, a core component of the European FashionTEX project. It redefines fashion education by empowering students to translate their visions into reality using digital tools.

The practice-oriented modules at the partner universities introduce young designers to the fundamentals of 3D fashion design. They encourage experimentation, open up spaces for technical innovation, and promote sustainable working practices. This is about much more than software training: The courses promote new narratives, encourage interdisciplinary thinking, and connect design with culture, technology, and ecology.

This creates a dynamic space in which the next generation of fashion designers not only master the tools of tomorrow but also actively shape the future of fashion.