anti_fashion_project

What anti_fashion_project does

Anti_Fashion Project is a participatory platform and research lab founded in 2015 around an anti-fashion, anti-waste manifesto authored by trend forecaster Lidewij Edelkoort and operationalized by founder Stéphanie Calvino. Operating from Roubaix and Marseille with a small core team of approximately six people, the organization convenes brands, designers, students and circular-economy actors around sustainability reform in the fashion industry.

The project delivers programming across several formats: the Les Rencontres annual conference series (held 2016–2019 in Roubaix), a Mentoring Program, workshops, the Masterclass ÊTRE_ROUBAIX, and a Shop offering upcycled products. Its stakeholder mix spans luxury (LVMH), sportswear (Décathlon), sustainable footwear (VEJA), mass retail (La Redoute, Jules), second-hand marketplaces (Leboncoin) and design education (ESMOD), positioning the platform as a cross-industry convening body rather than a single-segment vendor.

The business model is hybrid but predominantly mission-driven and grant-funded. Operating capital comes from regional public sources — Métropole Européenne de Lille, Région Hauts-de-France and Ville de Roubaix — supplemented by the Fondation Vinci pour la Cité, with no venture capital or private equity backing identified. Commercial revenue streams (workshop fees, masterclass tuition, shop sales) are visible in concept but are not separately disclosed, indicating a structure closer to an associative or non-profit entity than a venture-scale business.

Name

anti_fashion_project

Legal name

Anti_Fashion Project

Website

https://anti-fashion-project.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Fashion Events & Education

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159), Apparel Manufacturing (315)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Resizing & Restyling / Garment Upcycling (HSAJAFAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable/Ethical Shopping & Capsule Wardrobe Building (HSACAJAL), Rental-to-Resale / Circular Fashion Platforms (CRAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Sustainable fashion platform
• Fashion industry conferences
• Upcycling workshops
• Social mentoring programs
• Ethical fashion initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Roubaix

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Workshop facilitation and collaboration programs: Organizing workshops on deconstruction, upcycling, and new economic models for fashion industry. Partners include brands like Décathlon, VEJA, Jules for collaborative programs.
2. Mentoring program: Social and professional mentoring program for 18-25 year olds from disadvantaged urban areas (quartiers prioritaires), launched December 2016. Focus on accessing training and employment in fashion industry.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Anti_Fashion Project is a participatory platform and research laboratory that organizes international conferences (Rencontres), workshops on upcycling and sustainable fashion, a mentoring program for disadvantaged youth, free masterclasses, and an online shop selling photo books and limited-edition upcycled clothing. It is driven by Lidewij Edelkoort's 2015 ANTI_FASHION manifesto and brings together fashion brands, designers, academics, students, and citizens to collaborate on reinventing the fashion system.

Product overview

Anti_Fashion Project is a participatory platform and research laboratory initiated by Lidewij Edelkoort's 2015 manifesto. The organization operates as a platform-plus-programs model comprising: the core ANTI_FASHION Manifesto as its foundational document; Les Rencontres (annual international conferences exploring sustainable fashion across 2016-2019); the Mentoring Program for disadvantaged youth (18-25); Workshops offering hands-on training in upcycling and sustainable design; Masterclass ÊTRE_ROUBAIX featuring notable personalities; and a Shop selling photo books and upcycled clothing. These programs work together to federate fashion industry actors, designers, entrepreneurs, and citizens in collaborative projects toward a more virtuous fashion economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Masterclass ÊTRE_ROUBAIX: A series of free masterclasses organized by Sophie Bramly and Anti_Fashion Project, inviting the public to meet personalities who share their singular journeys away from conventional paths.

Products and services

• Les Rencontres Annual international conference series bringing together fashion industry actors, designers, researchers, academics, and innovators in Marseille and Roubaix to discuss sustainable and ethical fashion practices.
• Mentoring Program Social and professional mentoring program for 18-25 year olds from priority urban areas (quartiers prioritaires) in Roubaix, providing guidance toward training and employment opportunities in fashion and related industries.
• Workshops Educational workshops covering clothing deconstruction, upcycling, photography, new economic models, and creation of ephemeral pop-up stores, conducted with partner brands (Décathlon, VEJA, RE;CODE) and fashion schools.
• Masterclass ÊTRE_ROUBAIX Series of free masterclasses featuring notable personalities sharing their singular career paths, organized by Sophie Bramly and Anti_Fashion Project at Pôle Ressources Jeunesse Deschepper in Roubaix.
• Shop (Upcycled Collection & Photo Books) Online shop featuring limited-edition upcycled clothing items (blouses, sweatshirts, windbreakers made from Jules brand advertising banners) and photo exhibition books documenting Anti_Fashion events and talents.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 successful annual editions of Rencontres conference series
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• LVMHmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor luxury fashion group listed as partner. Supports the platform's mission to reinvent fashion system with conscious and responsible practices.
• DécathloncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports retailer partner for workshops including Neo-Artisanat program (8-day workshop on sneaker design). Invites mentoring program youth to participate in innovation projects.
• VEJAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable sneakers brand partner for pop-up stores and upcycling workshops. Collaborative events at VEJA boutiques including Darwin-Bordeaux location.
• La RedoutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench fashion retailer hosted Roubaix event in March 2018. Supports young entrepreneurs through Prêt-à-Décoller program in partnership with Ulule crowdfunding platform.
• JulesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion brand providing advertising materials for upcycling into limited edition clothing. Available through Anti_Fashion Project shop.
• ESMOD RoubaixcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion school partner for workshops and student participation in Rencontres events. Contributes to research and education on sustainable fashion.
• LeboncoinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench classifieds platform partner for Festival Le Goût de M with Le Monde Magazine at École Duperré in March 2024.
• Fondation Vinci pour la CitéminorOthersFoundation supporting social and professional integration initiatives. Associated with mentoring program for disadvantaged youth.
• Métropole Européenne de LilleminorOthersLocal government authority supporting regional activities and events in Northern France.
• Région Hauts-de-FranceminorOthersRegional council supporting initiatives in Northern France where programs are centered.
• Ville de RoubaixcoreOthersCity of Roubaix hosts mentoring program at PRJ Deschepper and supports events. Located in priority urban area where social programs are focused.
• RefashionminorOthersFrench eco-organization related to textile sustainability and recycling. Associated with sustainable fashion ecosystem.
• Mission Locale de Roubaix et de CroixcoreOthersYouth employment mission hosting mentoring program. Direct partner for social insertion initiative targeting 18-25 year olds.
• Pôle Ressources Jeunesse Deschepper RoubaixcoreOthersYouth resource center in Roubaix hosting mentoring and Masterclass programs. Primary venue for social programs.
• SessunminorOthersFrench fashion brand associated with sustainable and ethical fashion practices. Part of partner network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Fashion for Good: Amsterdam-based platform supporting sustainable-fashion innovators through accelerators, pilots, and corporate partnerships. Comparable as a platform that catalyzes sustainable-fashion initiatives via partnerships with major brands (e.g., Adidas, Kering), paralleling Anti_Fashion's LVMH/Décathlon collaborations.

Broad incumbents

• Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Major global foundation driving the circular-economy agenda, including a flagship fashion initiative (Make Fashion Circular). Comparable at the level of advancing circular-fashion discourse and convening multi-stakeholder commitments in the industry.
• Sustainable Apparel Coalition: Industry coalition of brands, retailers, and manufacturers working on sustainability measurement (Higg Index) for apparel and footwear. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder convening body focused on sustainable fashion practices, though operating at significantly larger scale.
• Textile Exchange: Global non-profit driving the adoption of preferred materials and circular practices in the textile industry. Comparable as a standards- and education-oriented organization working on responsible fashion materials.

Others

• Refashion: French eco-organization dedicated to textile-waste reduction, repair, and circular practices (formerly known as Eco TLC). Listed as a partner in the data and comparable as a French sustainable-textile organization, but with a regulatory/EPR mandate rather than a community-platform model.
• Vestiaire Collective: Global luxury and premium resale platform, operating a circular-fashion marketplace. Comparable at the level of advancing circular-fashion consumption, but operating as a commercial resale marketplace rather than a community-led initiative.

Direct peers

• Fashion Revolution: Global fashion sustainability movement using campaigns, events, and community organizing to push for industry reform. Directly comparable to Anti_Fashion as a community-led, advocacy-driven initiative anchored by founder reputation and operating through annual events and educational programs.
• Common Objective: Digital B2B platform connecting fashion brands with sustainable suppliers, tools, and resources. Comparable as a curated fashion-sustainability platform that brings together industry actors, academics, and entrepreneurs around responsible practices.
• Redress: Hong Kong-based non-profit focused on reducing textile waste through designer education, the Redress Design Award, and circular-fashion research. Comparable as an education-and-event-driven organization promoting upcycling and sustainable-design practices within the fashion industry.
• The Sustainable Angle: UK-based organization running sustainable-textile events (e.g., the Source trade show) and education programs. Comparable as an event-driven platform that convenes fashion industry actors around sustainability themes, including upcycling and circular design.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fashion_anti
• Facebookfacebook.com/Anti_fashion-1347112088706311
• Instagraminstagram.com/anti_fashion_project
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/anti-fashion-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about anti_fashion_project