On 2 March 2026, European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Culture & Creativity hosted the event ‘Beyond Adaptation: The Shift to Circular Practices’ at the Paris Fashion Week, tackling the theme of adaptation and sustainability in fashion. The EIT Culture & Creativity was established in 2023 by the EIT, an EU body, as an institutional partnership dedicated to improving the sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness of the European cultural and creative sectors and industries (CCSI), activating a continent-wide network to provide resources, funding, knowledge, and support.

The event gathered 80 participants and represented the final meeting of the NEB Fashion Adaptor programme, which accompanied 12 brands in a circular training program led by EIT Culture & Creativity. Designers and ecosystem stakeholders illustrated to institutional players and investment partners their efforts towards circular business models, ranging from product upcycling to end-of-life management.

Discussions covered the topics of local innovation, craft heritage, digitisation, and traceability, exploring solutions to unite global exchanges and local know-how. Sessions also focused on the importance of building partnerships and collaboration throughout the value chain.

Brands pitched ideas to recycle waste into primary resources, reviving fabrics and pigments to relaunch creativity. NEB Fashion Adaptor participants also pitched their own innovation, focusing on circular, sustainable business practices applicable to the EU textile ecosystem.

Institutional and business partners further confronted on how the regulatory landscape will evolve in the next few years. Sustainability was also analysed through a financial lens, highlighting how robust business models are foundational for innovation and circularity. Stakeholders emphasised the importance of keeping long-term goal into consideration for fashion innovation.