On 22 September 2025, EDU4U organised a Conscious Consumerism Networking Event in Sečovce, Slovakia, bringing together young people, educators, youth workers, volunteers, and representatives of local civil society organisations interested in sustainable fashion and responsible consumption. The event served as a meeting point for stakeholders engaged in youth education, creativity, and sustainability, while also opening the discussion to the wider local community.
The networking event built on a series of educational and creative activities implemented under the No Label initiative, including lectures, Fashion Week challenges, a youth-led Fashion Hackathon, and a Sustainable Fashion Show. Participants were introduced to key topics such as fast versus slow fashion, textile waste, greenwashing, and conscious consumption, while also engaging in interactive discussions, quizzes, and reflections on personal clothing habits. Practical tools like reuse, restyling, repair, second-hand fashion, and concepts such as cost per wear were discussed as accessible alternatives to overconsumption.
A strong emphasis was placed on peer exchange and cooperation. Participants shared experiences from school-based and non-formal education settings, discussed challenges in engaging young people around sustainability, and exchanged good practices related to creative learning and behaviour change. Informal networking during the event encouraged dialogue between organisations, teachers, youth leaders, and volunteers, helping to strengthen existing partnerships and spark interest in future collaboration.
Overall, the event reinforced cooperation within the local sustainability and youth work ecosystem, increased awareness of conscious consumerism, and supported the long-term impact of the project by connecting organisations that can continue promoting sustainable fashion beyond the project duration.