IFA Paris Greenlight Festival: Innovating Sustainable Fashion

A Week to Rethink Fashion

The Greenlight Festival, a sustainable event initiated by IFA Paris, brought together students, designers, and visitors on campus for four days to question current practices in the fashion industry and promote more responsible alternatives.

At the heart of this first edition was a sustainable fashion marathon, born from a collaboration between students from IFA Paris and Italy’s Ferrari Fashion School, a partner institution. As part of a student exchange, a group from Milan traveled to Paris to team up with their French peers on a concrete brief: design two upcycled outfits in four days using garments donated by students themselves. Working independently in the campus agora, the teams dove into an intensive workshop atmosphere.

At the same time, the campus came alive with public showrooms, where students showcased their creations alongside young eco-conscious brands invited for the occasion. Set up in the IFA Paris courtyard, the stands gave visitors a glimpse into the next generation of responsible designers.

Interactive workshops also invited the public to explore eco-friendly practices in a friendly and hands-on environment. On the agenda: tote bag customization and biomaterial creation from algae, offering new ways to imagine sustainable fashion.

The festival also made room for reflection, with roundtable discussions and a live podcast hosted by Nora Gherbi, founder of WHO CARES? and @CHANGE NOW, an opportunity to explore the evolving role of creators in today’s global transformations.
 

An Inspiring and Spectacular Finale

The Greenlight Festival ended on a high note with a performance-fashion show in the IFA Paris courtyard. The upcycled outfits created during the marathon were revealed in an original scenography blending contemporary dance and artistic expression. Professional models and dancers brought the students’ visions to life in a vibrant celebration of their work.

The final look of the show was customized live by students from the Brassart graphic design school, who created a live painting performance directly on the garment. A bold creative gesture and a symbolic way to wrap up these four days of experimentation and exchange.

The evening continued with a cocktail and DJ set, giving participants, speakers, and visitors a relaxed setting to connect and celebrate the experience in a festive atmosphere.

At IFA Paris, sustainability is at the core of our educational philosophy. The Greenlight Festival embodies this commitment: learning to create differently, innovating responsibly, and collaborating across disciplines. It gave our students the chance to apply their skills in real-world conditions while asserting their vision for a more conscious fashion industry.

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