UDIT and KIABI join forces to promote inclusive design and young talent
The alliance starts with an academic challenge for second year students of the Degree in Fashion Design, who will have to create garments adapted for children between 2 and 12 years old with reduced mobility.
UDIT, University of Design, Innovation and Technology, and KIABI, a benchmark brand in fashion for the whole family, have signed a long-term collaboration agreement with the aim of bringing the business world closer to the university environment and raising awareness among new generations about the major challenges facing the textile sector: sustainability, accessibility and social innovation.
An academic challenge with a purpose
The first milestone of this alliance is aimed at the second year students of the University's Degree in Fashion Design, who will have to design and make an inclusive and sustainable garment adapted to children aged between 2 and 12 with reduced mobility .
This project, which will be developed during the 2025/2026 academic year in the subjects of Projects, Dressmaking and Patternmaking and Textile Technology 2, combines creativity, technique and social commitment .
The students' proposals will be evaluated by a multidisciplinary jury, made up of representatives from the UDIT teaching team and KIABI, who will assess criteria such as functional accessibility, the selection of materials, the viability of production on an industrial scale and the aesthetic and conceptual contribution .
The closing of the challenge will be a professional fashion show at the UDIT Design and Creative Industries Campus, where all the garments created will be presented as a showcase for the talent, creativity and commitment of the students. The winning group will travel to Kiabi Village, the company's headquarters in Lille (France), where they will be able to immerse themselves in the day-to-day life of a multinational fashion company .
A stay that will allow them to live a unique international professional experience, establish direct contact with the global teams and discover from the inside how a benchmark company in accessibility, innovation and sustainability works on a European scale .
In addition to the development of the project itself, the students will be able to attend masterclasses given by KIABI Spain and Portugal managers, in which they will address areas such as brand strategy, marketing and corporate culture .
"This agreement with UDIT represents much more than a one-off challenge. It is a strategic commitment to young talent, to collaboration between sectors and to training connected to the real challenges of our industry. At KIABI we believe in fashion with purpose, and in students as future agents of change", says Mercedes Porro, Strategy Director of KIABI Spain and Portugal .
"Collaborating with KIABI allows us to offer students a comprehensive, creative and professional experience, where they can apply what they learn in a real context. These types of alliances are key to connecting young talent with the dynamics of the market and generating a positive social impact through design", says Maruca García, Director of the Fashion Department at UDIT .