BLOG 2/3 INTERNSHIP - TOTEME

Welcome to the second blogpost of my internship at Toteme!

About six weeks have passed since I started my internship as a Raw Material Developer Intern. I’m getting more and more comfortable in my role at the company and learning something new every day. At times, it can definitely be a bit stressful working with fabrics for different collections simultaneously, and it can get confusing trying to keep track of everything. But after six weeks, I’m starting to get more used to the pace and the working environment. A part of my role is assisting in keeping daily contact with suppliers and asking for updates regarding stock, pricing, MOQ, lead times, sustainability certificates, and so on. I also spend quite a lot of time working in Excel, filling in files with all the relevant information connected to each fabric.

One thing I’ve also been doing lately is archiving. This means cutting fabric tirellas and bulk fabrics into smaller cuttings (like A4 size) that have been used in previous collections and organising them into archive boxes. It’s been really cool to see and feel all the fabrics used in earlier collections. It has helped me better understand fabrics in general, but also suppliers and which suppliers are typically used depending on the fabric composition and material. One thing that I’ve realised is that it can be quite challenging to find the right fabrics when balancing quality, cost, time, and sustainability all at once. Finding the right balance between these factors is definitely not always easy.

I’ve also been writing daily diary notes both during work and on the bus ride home. I feel like this has given me time to reflect on the tasks I’ve been doing each day, and I think it will be really useful later when writing my final report.

Overall, it’s been a fun and very rewarding experience to see how the fashion industry and raw material sourcing work from the inside.

That’s it for my second blog post. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Peace out,
Noah

Global Marketing Intern 2/3

A few weeks have passed since my last post, and I feel like I've really settled into the role now. I've taken on more responsibility since my first month, and the work has become both more independent and more varied which I'm genuinely enjoying. 

I'm still very much involved in the ongoing work I mentioned in my first post like putting together monthly marketing reports, coordinating with PR agencies and influencer content, and being part of the planning around upcoming activations and events. Alongside this, one of the bigger things I'm working on right now is a project where I'm putting together a framework for how the company can work organically with Pinterest. The goal is to map out how the platform can be used to increase brand awareness and visibility, and what kind of content strategy would make the most sense given the brand's identity. This requires me to think more strategically and take ownership of the process from start to finish, which is very fun cause I think that's the way you learn and gain real experience.

What I keep noticing is how almost every meeting or task connects back to the same question: which initiatives are most important for fashion brands when it comes to strengthening brand awareness? This is something I find genuinely interesting to explore and from a global marketing perspective, it also raises a broader question about how brands maintain a consistent global identity while still adapting to local markets. How do you balance? It's something I'm hoping to dig into further, and as a step in that direction, I have a meeting scheduled with one of the company's marketing directors next week to discuss exactly this.

Intern Nobo Design 2/3

At the company where I am doing my internship, they organize many events of different sizes that I have been able to take part in. The smaller events are aimed at groups of friends who are invited to our showroom, where they are offered sparkling wine and snacks, get a presentation of the new arrivals and how to style them, and then the customers can walk around and try on as many clothes as they want.

Most of the customers who come to these smaller events have attended events at Nobo before and are familiar with both the concept and the employees. This creates a more personal atmosphere where we connect with the customers through a lot of conversation. Some customers even shook hands when they arrived because they did not recognize me from before.

At the larger events, there is not the same personal connection with the customers because there is not enough time for it. Instead, more free services and products are offered. Sparkling wine and snacks are still available, but on a much larger scale. There were also hairstylists on site who styled customers’ hair, and everyone who made a purchase received a goodie bag.

One thing that has been fun to see is how much the customers encourage each other to shop by giving compliments and motivating each other to try on clothes, which makes our job easier :)

Blog 1/3 : Building bridges through ENGAGE

Hello,

I am currently doing my field study within the ENGAGE project, where I am working and thinking like a project leader who is responsible to build the foundation for the project that build a bridge between different stakeholders.

At first, I thought of ENGAGE mainly as a project that should focus on improving contact between students and companies. But the more I work and think strategically about it, the more I understand that ENGAGE can create meaningful connections between students, teachers, alumni, and external partners in a way that supports long-term career development.

So far, my work has mainly been exploratory. I have been involved in reviewing literature that supports such initiatives, discussing the direction of the initiative with my teammate and Digital Business Lab, and helping develop preliminary interview questions for students, program leaders, teachers, alumni, and companies who are divided into primary and secondary stakeholders. This has shown me the importance of first understanding people’s actual needs before trying to design or strategize solutions.

One insight that I have reflected on a lot so far is that professional development is not only about what happens in the classroom. Along with the study material access to networks, real industry contact, and the opportunity to understand professional expectations can also shape a student’s future in a constructive way. Even something as simple as a conversation with the right person can create confidence, direction, and opportunity.

One, out of many things, that I find especially valuable in this project is that it encourages me to see from the perspective as a student and as a researcher. It is making me reflect not only on what kind of support students need, but also on how a university can build stronger and more deeper relationships with the world outside of the designated curriculum. 

For me, working in this project is giving me a better insight of how to go through networking much more effectively that focuses on creating solutions. As the pilot questions being ready me and my teammate is slowly moving towards interviews, which I will talk more about on my next blog post. For now, this is the first of the three blog post that gives an overview of the field study I am doing.

Internship at Revolution Race Blog 2/3

It has been a couple of weeks since my last blog entry, and quite a lot has happened since then. My time at Revolution Race continues to be a really rewarding experience, and with each week that passes, I find myself gaining a deeper understanding of how a modern outdoor apparel brand operates behind the scenes.

One of the highlights recently has been the chance to step outside my own department and spend some time with the social media team. This gave me a fascinating look into the more creative side of the business, specifically, how visual content is produced and edited for use in marketing campaigns. I got to learn and practice various photo editing techniques across industry-standard platforms, including Adobe and Lightroom, developing a better understanding of how imagery is carefully refined to align with a brand's identity and seasonal direction. The photos I worked with are destined for Revolution Race's upcoming summer campaigns, which gave the whole experience a real sense of purpose. It was refreshing to engage with a different team and pick up new skills outside of my usual day-to-day.

Back in my own department, Marketplace, things have picked up considerably as summer approaches. My main focus has been contributing to the build of the summer website, which includes updating campaigns, aligning product listings, and shaping the overall feel of the site to reflect the season. Alongside this, I have also been involved in planning push notifications sent out to customers around summer sales, which has been a good exercise in thinking about different communication strategies such as considering timing, tone, and what will actually resonate with the audience.

What I continue to enjoy most is how much I am learning about the relationship between markets, products, and customers. Every task feeds into a bigger picture of how a brand positions itself, and there is real satisfaction in seeing how individual contributions connect to the wider strategy.

Looking ahead, I will be finishing up the summer website in the coming weeks, and I am also really looking forward to visiting the production team to see firsthand how Revolution Race's products are made, from initial concept all the way through to the finished garment. I think it will give me a much more complete picture of the brand and how it operates. 

Consulting Field Study 2/3

My progression with the field study is going well and moving in the right direction, even though I wish I were a quicker writer and did not get stuck in my own reflections. I often end up searching for more information and falling into rabbit holes that may not be particularly relevant to the final results. However, I feel that I am learning and am driven by my own curiosity and desire to understand. 

During the past few weeks, I have made valuable contacts that have led to even more, resulting in access to useful information, seminars, discussions, and meetings. One of the seminars was held by the magazine Environment & Development (“Miljö & Utveckling”), which invited speakers from RISE and the fashion brand Lindex. The theme of the seminar was “How can companies prepare for the DPP?”, which provided valuable insights into how companies such as Lindex have been working with the Digital Product Passport on a pilot level, including their challenges, opportunities, and recommendations.

Furthermore, I had a productive meeting with Evidi, a leading Scandinavian company that offers technical and digital solutions based on Microsoft platforms to improve data flow and IT infrastructure within companies across different industries. They have developed their own Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system, called PISA, with a focus on the textile and apparel industry. During the meeting, I received an introduction to the system and gained a clearer understanding of several of my questions.

Last week, we had our mid-term presentation at the Digital Business Lab with our mentor Marianne and my fellow peers. I greatly appreciated the session, along with our regular Monday meetings, because they provide an important opportunity to step outside of one’s own thoughts and research and gain insight into the work and progress of others. It is valuable to hear different perspectives, thoughts, and ideas and to support each other throughout the process. I was particularly intrigued by participating in two eye-tracking tests and interviews.

The Hidden Life of Textile Waste in Bangladesh’s Garment Industry

When we consider the garment industry, we often think about finished clothes: shirts, trousers, dresses, and jackets that travel from factories to shops around the world. However, my IFS has made me look at a different part of the fashion system, the materials that are left behind before clothes even reach consumers.

My study focuses on informal waste management in Bangladesh's garment industry. More specifically, I am conducting a systematic literature review on how post-industrial textile waste is managed, what role informal actors play, and what the outcome means for sustainability and global textile value chains. 

Post-industrial or pre-consumer textile waste includes fabric scraps, cutting waste, rejected materials, leftover textiles, and other residues created during garment production. These materials seem useless at the first glance, but the literature shows that they often continue to have value. They can be collected, sorted, sold, reused, recycled, or downcycled. This means that textile waste does not simply disappear after production. Instead, it enters another system, one that is often informal, less visible, and not fully reorganized in official sustainability discussions. 

One important part of my study is understanding the role of informal actors. These may include waste collectors, local traders, sorters, small recyclers, and other workers who handle textile waste outside formal company systems. Their work may not always be documented or protected. But it contributes to keeping materials in use. In this sense, we can already see informal waste management as a form of circularity. 

So far, I have gained one of the most interesting insights from my reading. The circular economy is often discussed as something modern, technical, and policy-driven. It is connected to recycling technology, traceability systems, brand responsibility and sustainability, and sustainability goals. However, in Bangladesh, informal actors have already been practicing certain forms of circularity by recovering and redistributing textile waste. Their work shows that circular practices do not only arise from formal innovation. They can also come from everyday survival, local knowledge, and informal economic networks.

At the same time, informal waste management systems face many challenges. Workers and small traders may have limited bargaining power, limited income, unsafe working conditions, and little formal recognition. Waste flows may also be difficult to trace, which creates challenges for global brands and sustainability standards. As textile recycling becomes more valuable, there is also a risk that formal recycling companies and global supply chain actors may take greater control over waste streams while informal ones are pushed aside. 

This creates an important question for my study: when textile waste becomes valuable, who gets to benefit from it?

In global textile value chains, companies create value not only by producing and selling garments. You can also create value from waste. Fabric scraps and leftovers can support recycling businesses, help factories reduce waste, allow brands to make sustainability claims, and provide income for informal workers. However, benefits have not always been shared equally. This is why governance is important. Governance refers to the rules, standards, policies, and power relations that decide how textile waste is managed and who is included in the process.

My research questions focus on three areas. First, I want to understand what roles the informal sector plays in managing post-industrial textile waste in Bangladesh. Second, I want to identify the main challenges faced by informal waste management systems. Third, I want to examine what these practices mean for sustainability and governance in the global textile value chains.

Since my field study is a systematic literature review, my area of focus is the existing research. I am studying academic articles from databases like Web of Science and Scopus. Through this process, I am learning how different researchers are describing textile waste, informal recycling, circular economy, and global value chains. Some studies focus directly on Bangladesh, while others provide comparisons from other countries or broader theoretical perspectives.

Overall, this topic has changed how I understand waste. Waste is not only an environmental problem. It is also connected to work, income, inequality, responsibility, and global trade. The fabric pieces left behind in garment factories may seem small, but they reveal bigger questions about sustainability and justice in the fashion industry.

For me, the most important lesson so far is that a sustainable textile system should not only focus on recycling materials. It should also recognize the people and networks that already manage those materials. If informal actors are ignored, circular economy strategies may become incomplete. A fairer approach would include them in future discussions about textile waste, recycling, and global value chain governance.

 

2/3 Creative Content Intern

Hi, count this as my second check in regarding my internship as Creative Content Intern. 

After completing just over a month of internship, I have not only become more settled and confident in my daily tasks and responsibilities but have also started to see clear patterns in regards to my report topic of the integration of AI into creative workflows. 

As I close every week with writing reflective diary entries on the main tasks, the specific usage of AI and the effects on factors such as speed, quality and creativity, I have been able to observe how AI usage is not a fixed task but more of an evolving process which I am learning through. This includes observing how differently I have been using it. From the idea generation to optimization or the analysis of KPIs to reflecting on my personal views and emotions that come with "outsourcing" certain tasks to AI. 

While this past month has definitly made me more curious for all the different usages and endless of AI in creative marketing I am also keeping critical distance at the same time. I also keep questioning what it changes in the creative process. Where does authorship sit? What happens to authenticity when AI is involved? For the second part of the internship I am eager to try and figure out those questions above as I know they are not just something that is interesting for me striving for a career in creative positions but for the industry itself.  

So far, I have been enjoying this internship, the contributions I have been able to make to the company, and the curiousness to new processes supported by my managers. 

Thank you for reading,

Nora 

 

 

 Blog #1 : Individual Field Study 2026 - Influence of secondhand fashion on sustainable consumption in the Asian subcontinent: Exploring consumer and retailer perspectives

Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. This is my first blog post. As a part of the field study course, I am doing a systematic literature review on the “Influence of secondhand fashion on sustainable consumption in the Asian subcontinent: Exploring consumer and retailer perspectives." In the first debrief seminar, our course coordinator Jenny Balkow briefed us on how to proceed with individual field study, and later on, Olga Chaknikova guided us on the progress of the literature review. 

I have selected this topic in order to study how secondhand fashion is seen in the Asian subcontinent, focusing on consumers and retailers and what the motivations and barriers are to introducing this niche in that region. Since it is a growing market, the expansion occurs for various factors such as consumer motivations, market conditions, and sustainability awareness. However, the growth comes up with unique sustainability challenges such as environmental impact, social and cultural barriers, etc. This study will address the impact, possibilities, and challenges of secondhand fashion, answering the research questions and providing a constructive outcome on how to address these issues for fostering a sustainable secondhand market in that region.

In the last few weeks, I have worked on the keywords, literature, building up the research question, and structuring the report. Starting with the keywords, I have created a search string and used it to find relevant articles that are coherent with my topic, which helped me to finalize 25 peer-reviewed articles for my topic. These articles were selected through continuous screening after exporting the articles into an Excel file. Based on this, I have submitted the first draft, completing the introduction and methodology, and am currently working to create another search string in order to get more relevant articles using Scopus and Web of Science to support the literature review and complete the rest of the sections. So far, it has been a good learning experience for me, enabling me to build my strength in research. 

• Mahir Musleh Rafi

 Post 1

My IFS topic is Post-consumer Textile Waste Management: A Systematic Literature Review of Challenges and Opportunities for Circularity. Here is my search string:

( "post-consumer textile waste" OR "post-consumer clothing" OR "post-textile waste" OR "used clothing" OR "second hand clothing")

AND

("waste management" OR recycl* OR "circular economy" OR upcycl* OR reuse OR "resource recovery")

AND

(challenge* OR barrier* OR opportunit* OR solution* OR strateg*)

 

Blog post 3/3

 

Who Decides What Gets Sold?

 

During my internship at Erikshjälpen, I began to realize that the sorting process is not simply about organizing clothes, but about making decisions. At first, it appeared that garments were only being grouped into categories. However, over time, it became clear that each step in the sorting process involves structured decisions that determine the outcome of every item.

 

As garments move through light and heavy sorting, they are assessed based on criteria such as brand, condition, and garment type. These factors influence whether an item is sent for sale, export, repair, or removal. What is important is that these outcomes are not random, but follow a consistent system guided by internal rules and standards.

 

One observation that stood out to me is that decisions are not always based on appearance. Some garments that look new and in good condition are still redirected or removed, while others continue through the process. This shows that sorting goes beyond visible qualities and reflects deeper considerations such as quality, usability, and organizational guidelines.

 

At the same time, I began to realize that sorting is only one part of a larger system. While staff make decisions during sorting, the types of garments that enter the system in the first place are influenced by consumers. What people choose to buy, use, and donate shapes what arrives at second-hand stores. If many low quality or fast fashion garments are donated, this affects the availability of items that can successfully pass through the sorting process and be resold.

 

This creates an important connection between consumers and secondhand retail. On one hand, sorting determines what reaches the shop floor. On the other hand, consumers indirectly influence what is available by shaping the input of the system. In this sense, both sorting practices and consumer behavior play a role in deciding what ultimately gets sold.

 

This experience has changed the way I view secondhand stores. What is available for purchase is not simply a reflection of donations, but the result of both structured decisions and consumer patterns. It highlights that secondhand retail is not only about reuse, but also about selection and control.

 

Overall, sorting functions as a decision-making system that filters garments, while consumers influence what enters that system in the first place. Together, these processes shape what is visible, what is reusable, and what is ultimately given a second life in the market.

 

Therefore, the question of who decides what gets sold cannot be answered by looking only at secondhand organizations. Sorting staff make decisions about what continues through the system, but consumers also influence these outcomes through the types of garments they buy, use, and donate. In this sense, what gets sold is shaped both by organizational sorting practices and by consumer behavior.

-Suror-

CFS on Sustainability Communication with Värnamo of Sweden 2/3

In the consultancy field study with Värnamo of Sweden and business lab, I focus on how SMEs can develop sustainability communication. This has been an interesting learning process, as many SMEs face limited resources when trying to keep up with the latest sustainability trends.

To better understand sustainability communication in practice, I started learning website design using Figma. It was my first time using this software, and I encountered several challenges, such as layout adjustments, loading performance, and animation settings. However, it has also been a valuable experience, and I would like to explore it further in the future. During the design process, I also reviewed some papers on UI/UX design and found that user behaviour plays an important role in shaping effective design outcomes. This reminded me of the concept of design thinking. With a user-centred approach, later design prototypes can better align with users’ contexts and habits, making the communication more effective. Although it is a complex process, I believe it should be more emphasis.

In the past two weeks, I have also started conducting my experiment using eye-tracking and questionnaires. I look forward to gaining deeper insights when I analyse the data later.

Internship at an online fashion store, 2/3

During the last couple of weeks of my internship I’ve got the opportunity to participate in the company’s customer event at their showroom. What became clear for me was how significant the relationship with the customer is, and how events and personal meetings are used to create both engagement and sales.

The company has both smaller events during the evenings, but also larger ones a few times a year. Leading up to the large one, there’s a lot of preparations, such as styling and doing visual merchandising in their showroom, contacting sponsors and preparing goodiebags, and inviting brands to show their clothes. It was a fun week of preparations before the event and many things I haven’t thought about that need to be prepared before an event. 

During the event I observed that there were a lot of returning customers that already had a relationship with the company and employees. Several customers tried on clothes, asked for styling help and interacted with the employees. I also experienced that the event was not only about selling, but also creating an experience and strengthening the relationship with the customer. By assisting in styling, personal conversation and an inspiring environment I think it created a more exclusive and personal feeling around the company and the products. 

Another thing I observed was how products were placed strategically in order to promote specific brands and garments. Products that the company wanted to sell more of were placed more visible and were recommended more often to the customer. It made me more aware of how customer meetings and marketing in fashion retail is not only about inspiration and service, but also impacting customers' attention and purchase decisions.

After participating and working these events I think I have gotten a deeper understanding of how customer relationships and events works in premium fashion retail. It has also made me reflect more on how closely connected customer experience, marketing and sales are in practice.

Blog #2 - Internship at the Swedish EPA

Over the past weeks, my internship at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency has become increasingly handson. Working within the department for a Resource efficient continues to give me valuable insight into how sustainability policies are developed, coordinated, and implemented in practice.

One of the most interesting experiences so far was giving a presentation on environmental monitoring and trend analysis within the textile industry. Preparing for it helped me better understand the complexity of sustainability challenges connected to textiles, especially regarding circular economy goals and upcoming EU regulations.

I have also taken part in several internal coordination meetings connected to new EU legislation. Since many of these regulations affect multiple areas within the agency, collaboration between departments is essential. It has been interesting to see how different expertise comes together to interpret regulations.

In addition, I have been involved in organising webinars and communicating with participants, which has given me insight into another important part of sustainability work: knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement. What continues to stand out to me is how interconnected sustainability work is. Environmental issues are rarely isolated; they are linked to economics, industry, policy, and communication. Seeing these connections in practice has made my studies feel much more tangible, and I’m excited to continue learning and contributing during the rest of my internship.

Communications and Commercial Intern 2/3

Communications and Commercial Intern: Post 2/3

Irene Rumiz

Hi!

After a little over a month as a Communications and Commercial Intern at The Loop Factory, I’m feeling really motivated. I’m genuinely happy to be part of a company that listens to its people and trusts their talent and potential.

Coming from the Dominican Republic, my previous work experience was… let’s just say intense. On the bright side, I seem to have unlocked “2x speed mode,” which meant I wrapped up my main tasks faster than expected.

So, when I sat down with the team to talk about what was next, I assumed I’d just get more tasks (which would’ve been totally fine). Instead, they asked me what I wanted to learn more about, which areas interested me most, and how they could shape my role around that. Honestly, that meant a lot. Being able to express my interests and have them taken seriously has made this experience even more valuable.

My ideas are actually considered, and I’ve even been given a slot in general team meetings to share my progress. That small (but big!) detail makes me feel really happy, and genuinely part of this amazing team. It’s also really nice that, even though meetings are usually held in Swedish, everyone switches to English so I can follow along and be part of the conversation. That kind of consideration doesn’t go unnoticed.

Now, while I’m still actively involved in communication tasks, I’ve also started exploring the commercial side of things and supporting the team there. It’s been great to get a broader view of the company.

As for commuting, it's still going strong. It can get a bit tiring sometimes, but there’s always the option of a strategic train nap (alarm included, of course… lesson learned).

I’ll keep you posted in part 3!

IR

 Blog #2: From Pixels to Personalization – The Tech Behind the Avatar

In my previous post I talked about the “why” of my virtual fitting room. Now, let’s get to the “how.” That is, how do I take two basic photos from a smartphone and turn them into a dynamic, anatomically realistic 3D mesh?

I have blended RealityScan and MetaHuman concepts to morph my MakeHuman base models to avoid the "too smooth" look of generic software. My pipeline uses a powerful open-source engine named Godot to host the 3D environment. The magic begins with Otsu’s thresholding, which produces a binarized image and extracts a clean silhouette. The system then automatically finds key landmarks to measure based on existing anthropometric ratios; for example, the waist should be three-eighths of a person’s height.

The real challenge is not only to create a static model but also to let it walk. I can rig the skeleton with Mixamo so I can try out dresses in dynamic poses like “reaching” or "stepping." This is where Enhanced Position-Based Dynamics (PBD) comes in. PBD, in contrast to traditional simulations, enables me to observe real-time "draglines," diagonal wrinkles indicating a garment is too tight, thus allowing me to perform a subjective fit analysis that numerical data alone might miss.

I'm currently struggling to implement high-fidelity cloth physics in Godot directly. Is this technical deep dive into morphing and landmark detection making sense, or do I need to explain more about the specifics of the “3/8ths rule” math?

Production Intern at Hodakova 2/3

 Post 2/3 

Building upon the previous post, one solution to limited sourcing availability is inventory - throughout these weeks, I have learned that although in traditional supply chains inventory is often considered a burden, in chains relying on deadstock inventory can be life saving. Inventory management, therefore, becomes another crucial part of production processes. Despite being rather time-consuming (sorting, categorising and inspecting quality of material, counting, labelling, measuring), knowing your inventory is crucial for future production planning, particularly when relying on deadstock garments which availability is often volatile. 

1/3 Marketing & PR Intern

Hi,

I’ve now been working at Envii for the past five weeks as a Marketing & PR Intern. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to support the E-commerce and Marketing team across a wide range of tasks.

My days have included everything from social media planning and content production to assisting with CRM and newsletters, PR collaborations and gifting, as well as providing general team support. One of my bigger ongoing projects has been an in-store and e-commerce activation, where I’ve been involved in both planning and execution, ensuring a cohesive experience across channels – something I could share more about in future posts.

Looking ahead, the coming month will involve more campaign-related work as the team prepares for a new launch at the end of July, including coordinating campaign, e-commerce, and social content shoots.

For the final report, I will focus on exploring different websites and understanding how Envii could make theirs more inspiring and engaging. I am also looking forward to connecting this with current research and highlighting the importance of sustainability communication across digital channels.

What I’ve especially enjoyed about this internship is the small team structure, which has allowed me to gain hands-on experience across PR, digital marketing, and brand communication. I’ve been able to work on a variety of tasks while also shaping my focus based on my interests, making the experience even more meaningful.

It’s also been exciting to see how Envii is in the process of reintroducing its brand, which has been reflected across all departments. The team has created a space for creativity and idea development, and I truly appreciate how they encourage everyone to share their ideas freely.

Speaking of the team, they have welcomed me warmly, and I’ve genuinely been enjoying my internship so far. Not only are they very good at what they do, but they also create such a positive and supportive work environment to be in. It’s been nice getting to know everyone through both work and our team breakfasts and lunches along the way. :)

Looking forward to the weeks ahead!

 

Blog #1: Solving the Fashion Fit Crisis with Open Source Tech

For my field study, I am trying to develop a digital virtual fitting room to address the "trillion-dollar problem" of online returns, which can soar to 40% because of poor garment fit. While I initially considered using a proprietary engine, I have pivoted to a more specialised, open-source pipeline that prioritises anatomy accuracy and real-time physics with less programming and extensive customisation.

One of the key findings of my research is that many professional fitting tools tend to produce avatars that are “too smooth” or perfectly symmetrical. Such models do not take into account the realities of age, including the distribution of body fat, contours of muscle, sagging and asymmetry. To fill this gap, I am using MakeHuman for parametric modelling and MeshLab to clean and process 3D point clouds to create a more realistic human form.

I rigged the characters with "Mixamo" and simulated the cloth using an enhanced PBD framework. The cloth simulation is believable and optimised to be used in normal devices. This student friendly approach aims for hyper-personalised sizing with an error rate of less than 10%, dramatically improving consumer experience and cutting down on industry waste.

 Blog 1/3 - RAI for SCArCITY project.

A month into my research Assistant internship which is part of the FORMAS-funded project SCArCITY: Scaling Circular Business Models in Cascaded Systems, which focuses on understanding how Circular business models (CBM's) operate and scale across different cascading loops in the textile and clothing (T&C)  industry. The purpose of the study that I am doing isto explore how textile materials/products can move through different stages while retaining value overtime and how this performance can be evaluated

The first four weeks have been mainly focused on building a foundational understanding of the topic with the core work of Sirkin and ten Houten (1994), redefining the purpose and methodology with guidance from my supervisor. The framework and four principles from Sirkin and ten Houten (1994), appropriate fit, augmentation, consecutive relinking and balancing resource metabolism have been important in helping me understand cascading and material flow better. The next step was to understand cascading in T&C industry in relation with circular economy CE.

Finding literature was a real challenge to begin with due to the papers being relatively fresh and most keywords gave back less than 20 papers of which only few were appropriate fit for the study. Thankfully my fellow research assistant intern was helpful and gave me some creative ways to look for literature. Another challenge is narrowing down, finding how much is enough and to understand the use of grey literature. The use of grey literature (wood industry) for the study is needed as mentioned by my supervisor to understand the cascading systems can be analysed in practice, tracking product flows across multiple uses.

The methodology for my study is critical literature review, where different strands of literature (CBM, Cascading, CE indicators and lifecycle assessment) are analysed through the lens of the four core principles of cascading. At this stage, the work is still in progress and the next step is to continue this analysis and begin structuring the key dimensions that will support the development of KPI's.

Overall the first month has been focused on the key concepts, theoretical grounding and establishing analytical direction. It has been a lot of reading once the challenge of finding literature was conquered. The next week will be more reading and I am following my supervisors guidance in this regard as he suggested to start writing only after reading and structuring the literature in detail. 

Sangavi Vetrivel 

Blog post 1 on comparing CAD/CAM software for textile design

 A month has gone by and during that month it has been a lot of reading articles. Much more than I originally thought. My planning report is basically out the window at this stage.

But this reading has been very interesting, I've looked into other research doing silimar studies but in other fields or software and by doing so I have learnt some new methodology that can be used for decision making and comparisons. 

Brzozowski and Birfer (2017) lists in their article the different and most popular Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) that are used for comparing ERP systems, which feels like it could be applyed on other software comparisons as well. They do mention the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) as the top one with Fuzzy AHP as the second, which is what my literature study has also shown to be the case. Even though I have run into Fuzzy AHP more than plain AHP. Good thing I like math... Also, please do not make me say those names out loud in the presentations because there's no way I'll be able to pronounce them correctly and I am sorry in advanve for butchering them.

AHP then, is a structured method for making complex decisions by breaking them down into smaller, more manageble parts. It works in four stages;

1. Structuring the problem as a hierarchy for comparison, including the goal for the decision, the criteria and the subcriteria and the options that are to be compared.

2. Compare each criteria pairwise by asking if criterion A is more important than criterion B and if so then by how much on a scale of 1 to 9 where 1 is equally important and 9 is extremly more important.

3. Calculate the comparisons into numerical weigths

4. Eacxh alternative is scored against the criteria which shows the best option.

Fuzzy AHP includes for the indecision that may accompany the comparison, that is that if you choose 3, you might mean 2, 3 or 4 and include these as a fuzzy numerical set to be counted with instead. 

Basically it's a lot of math. And possibly a questionnaire in order to get more reliable weights for each criteria. 

Well, that's it for now. Back to reading, writing and figuring out criteria!

Blog #1 - Internship at the Swedish EPA

 

Over the past weeks, I have started my internship at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, working within the Department for a Resource Efficient Society. This experience has given me an interesting introduction to how sustainability work is carried out on a national level, as well as within a broader European and international context.

The Swedish EPA works on behalf of the Swedish government, but also plays an important role within the EU and in international environmental cooperation. The agency leads and coordinates environmental efforts in Sweden and is organised into different departments. I am part of the Department for a Resource Efficient Society, which focuses on the transition to a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.

So far, I have had the opportunity to participate in various meetings, dialogues, and conferences. One thing that has stood out to me is how much collaboration is involved. Many discussions include stakeholders from different sectors, which highlights how complex and interconnected sustainability challenges are. It is not just about environmental issues in isolation, but also about balancing economic and social perspectives.

I am also beginning to understand more about how EU regulations are implemented in practice, and how they influence national policies and decision-making. This has helped me connect theoretical knowledge from my studies to real-world processes.

At this stage, I am mostly observing and learning, but it already feels valuable to see how policies and strategies are shaped. I am looking forward to becoming more involved in ongoing projects and contributing more actively in the coming weeks.

Internship at an online fashion store, 1/3

I’m doing my internship at a smaller online fashion store based in Gothenburg that resells premium brands such as Malina, Gant, Barbour, and Busnel. I have now completed my first weeks and I have already gained valuable insights into several areas of the company. Mainly these weeks have been about getting familiar with the daily operations, such as warehouse tasks involving packing orders, putting new products in their system, and marketing.One of the most interesting parts so far has been participating in buying meetings with other brands. Here, I have observed how decisions are made regarding which product to buy from up-coming collections. 

What I noticed was how strongly these decisions are guided by the target customers. Rather than simply following trends, there is a clear focus on selecting pieces that fit the brand’s identity and what they believe their customers will actually buy. They have a more mature customer which has different needs/preferences when looking for clothes than someone my age that is around 25. This made me think more of how important it is to balance intuition, experience, knowing your customer, and market awareness in buying decisions.

I have also been adding new products into the company’s system, including writing product descriptions. Writing product descriptions made me aware of how important it is to be very detailed about how a garment feel, look, and function, as it is the only source of knowledge about the product. The way a product is described may influence how it is perceived and give somewhat an idea of how it looks in real life since the customers can’t try it before they buy it.

Another area I have been working with is content creation for their social media. Here, I noticed that marketing decisions are closely connected to inventory. For example, it is important not to promote products that are low in stock since then the customer can’t buy what is marketed. But also promote products that are high in stock and that haven’t sold as much. This made me reflect on how different parts of the business such as marketing and logistics, are highly interconnected and need to be aligned.

These first weeks have given me a broader understanding of how a premium fashion retailer operates, and I am looking forward to continuing exploring how these different elements come together. I have already noticed how different functions within the company influence each other. From buying and product presentation to marketing and communication, everything plays a role in shaping the overall customer experience.

Intern Nobo Design 1/3

 I am doing my internship at Nobo Design, an online store for women’s fashion that sells more than 80 different brands like Filippa K, Anine Bing and Twist & Tango.

During the first weeks, I have tried many different tasks. The first days, I worked in the warehouse to get an understanding of the products. Over the past weekend, they had a sale on the whole website, which meant there were many extra orders to pack on Monday, and I helped with that. It gave me a good overview of the different brands quite quickly.

Since then I have added new items to the internal system, including information like supplier reference, color codes, article numbers, purchase price, and selling price. I have also written product descriptions and published them on the website. I realized that it can be a bit challenging to make a short text both informative and inspiring at the same time, but it has still been very fun.

Besides that, I have created content for both TikTok and Instagram. These are quite different, since they want to reach teenagers on TikTok, while their main target group on Instagram is around 60 years old.

Finally, I have also joined buying meetings with some of the brands. It has been very interesting to see how different the sales approaches are and how important building relationships is to get Nobo to buy more products, even though sales numbers are of course also important.

It has been fun to try many different things because every day is different. I have already gained a good understanding of many parts of the company, and I hope to learn even more in the coming weeks!

Consulting field study 1/3

 Blogpost Nr.1

I have now for three weeks worked with my consulting field study for Värnamo of Sweden together with Digital Business Lab. 

The family owned business is run by the third generation now and has been in business since the 1950’s. They are a small - to medium sized enterprise (SME) who manufactures mainly pillows, duvet and mattress protection. In their factory in Värnamo they perform the final assembly of the product, stuffing the products with synthetic fibers and the final sewing. 

They are the only company in Sweden who still have their own production in Sweden but they also have production in China, Denmark, Pakistan and Spain. 

Their products can be found at multiple brands stores or their website, otherwise they perform a B2B operation where their biggest clients are hotels, cruise ships and resorts. 

My consulting field study is focusing on how SMEs can strategically implement a digital product passport (DPP). I have conducted my research based on regulations of the European Commission, research articles, reports, videos and websites to get both a broad understanding of what kind of information is out there and how it performs more specifically for SMEs. 

Because the regulations are not yet determinant of what is mandatory to include in the DPP resulting in hesitation upon which data is more important or prioritized to gather. 

My discoveries are making me realize what a big challenge this transition is for sustainability, circular business models, DPP and to understand the EUs regulations is for SMEs. 

It is challenging for me who has the knowledge even from before and even harder now with more knowledge to understand how SMEs can leverage these regulations without proper research and understanding. 

I'm trying to step up and go from theoretical learning into practical, to get actual facts and information on how SMEs are approaching these regulations and the implementation of DPP in practice. Together with the understanding of the software and how the data is collected and put into use.

Fashion Events Intern 1/3

With a background in event management, I have always been interested in events. Over time, my interest in fashion and the creative industries has also grown, hence why I chose this Master’s programme to deepen my knowledge in these fields. For my CFS, I decided to pursue an internship that combines these areas. I am currently working as a Member Events Intern at a members’ club in Stockholm that functions as a hub for creatives across different industries, including fashion, where I am involved in planning and executing various events for members.

So far, I’ve attended meetings, assisted in coordination, and been present during events, which has given me insight into both the behind-the-scenes work and the event experience itself. My role also involves supporting different parts of the planning process, communicating with different departments, and helping ensure that events run smoothly from preparation to execution. Since the club brings together people from different creative and fashion-related fields, it also offers a valuable environment for meeting and interacting with individuals working across the industry. We also run several events each week, often with different themes where various fields come together, which makes the work very dynamic and insightful. Being involved in this day-to-day work comes with a lot of responsibility, which I find both challenging and very fun. Looking ahead, we are currently preparing for several upcoming fashion-related events later this spring, as well as activities connected to Stockholm Fashion Week. I am looking forward to being more involved in these projects and gaining further insight into how larger events are planned and executed.

Overall, these first weeks have given me a better understanding of how events function not just as experiences, but as carefully created environments where people connect and build networks. The sense of community and networking in these settings is something I find particularly interesting, which will be the main theme for my report as well.

Gina Tricot purchasing intern 1/3

 Blog 1/3 

Hi! As of writing this post I'm 3 weeks into my internship as a purchasing intern at Gina Tricot's head office in Borås. For this period, I will be rotating across three different teams (all purchasing): jersey, knitwear and heavy woven. 

This friday I finished my time with the jersey team. Most of my days has involved checking different kinds of samples (lab dips, bulk samples, shipment samples, proto samples, photo samples). Each of them needs to be approved by before anything goes forward. Here, I look at the colour, the quality, eventual pilling or bleeding, fit, etc. What I haven't really thought about before was that each single garment demands multiple decisons, emails and follow-ups before heading to production. Moreso, I have also been taught the data systems they use, how they communicate to their suppliers, and a lot of Excel... 

What struck me the most, and inspired my report topic, is how the people (mainly the ones working in purchasing) talk about sustainability. During my bachelor and this master, I think that I have gained a clear, defined concept of what sustainability truly is and possible ways to incorporate it and handle it in the textile industry. But at Gina Tricot, the definition of sustainability feels unclear and messier. One thing that has been on my mind a lot is that quality seems to be the main focus of sustainability for them (e.g. longevity of the garment). But at the same time, the purchasers wants to keep the prices as low as possible for their GM to be high, so that means changing the materials to cheaper alternatives. For me, this is contradictory.

However, I also have to keep in mind that this is a fast fashion company at the end of the day. This has also led me to think about what it means to be a fast fashion company that wants to do better, as Gina Tricot has a sustainability team, material policies, certifications and long term goals. But at the same time, they are a fashion company that releases new styles every single week. This tension is real, and this is what I tend to explore for my final report. 

I'm am looking forward for the next 3 weeks where I will be assisting the jersey team, and meeting the girls who are part of it!!

Thanks for reading !! :) 

Zoë

1/3 Creative Content Intern

Hey, 

I'm happy to share some of my experiences from the past weeks as a Creative Content Intern.

As the link between the Creative and Performance Marketing teams, my daily tasks revolve around creating content, editing visuals, and writing copy for different platforms as well as analytical tasks surrounding the performance of those contents. I further support campaign ideation and conduct trend research, which keeps me constantly engaged with what is relevant in the industry.

Working in a small-scale company has alloved me to take on ownership and responsibility from day one. This has been both rewarding and exciting, and it is helping me gain as much insight as possible during this period. My role spans multiple platforms, a variety of tasks and creative projects, and frequent collaboration with different departments. 

A key part of my internship also involves exploring how Artificial Intelligence can be integrated into marekting and creative workflows. As such a prominent topic in the industry , I am looking forward to diving deeper into the real opportunities and challenges it presents.

So far, I have been enjoying the experience a lot, have had a warm welcome and have gained valuable insights, which makes me even more excited for the rest of the internship.  

 

Blog post 2/3

 

FAST FASHION AND WHAT WE DON’T SEE

 

During my internship at Erikshjälpen, I observed something that made me reflect more deeply on the role of fast fashion within secondhand systems. While working in the sorting section, I noticed that certain fast fashion garments were consistently removed from the sorting process.

 

What stood out to me was that these items were not always damaged or worn out. In many cases, they appeared new and in good condition. However, despite their appearance, they were still discarded and did not proceed further into the system. When I asked about why this was so, I was informed that there are concerns regarding the uncertainty of materials, especially chemicals and production processes used in some fast fashion garments. As a result, these items are often not considered suitable to circulate within the secondhand market.

 

This observation highlights an important aspect of clothing that is often overlooked. As consumers, we tend to focus on visible qualities such as price, style, and appearance when purchasing garments. Fast fashion attracts buyers with affordability and trend driven designs. However, what is not visible are the underlying production processes, material composition, and potential quality concerns associated with these garments.

 

Through my experience, I began to understand that the value of clothing is not determined solely by how it looks or how new it appears. Instead, factors such as material, quality, durability, and production standards play a significant role in determining whether a garment can be reused or circulated within secondhand systems. This explains why some items, even when they appear perfectly wearable, are still filtered out during sorting.

 

In addition, this experience revealed that secondhand retail is not simply a passive system where all donated clothes are accepted and resold. Rather, it operates as an active filtering process. Decisions are made based on established criteria, and only garments that meet certain standards are allowed to reenter the market. This means that secondhand systems also play a role in shaping what is considered acceptable for reuse.

 

This has completely changed the way I think about fast fashion. It is not only about how quickly clothes are produced or how affordable they are, but also about their long-term value and impact. The fact that some garments are excluded from reuse raises important questions about sustainability, quality, and responsibility within the fashion industry.

 

Overall, this experience demonstrates that not all garments are suitable for a second life, even within systems designed to promote reuse. It also shows that secondhand retail involves more than resale, it involves careful decision-making about what should continue circulating and what should not. This has made me more aware of the importance of considering not just how clothing looks, but also what lies behind its production and how it fits into a more sustainable lifecycle. In purchasing clothing items moving forward I prefer to go for clothes that have second value and are in line with sustainability practices.

-Suror-

Blog #1: Loggit

I have been interning part-time for a few months with Loggit, a Norwegian startup that makes reusable packaging for e-commerce. I have had the chance to sit in on several meetings with a local apparel company here in Borås regarding a pilot for reusable shipping bags, so far, and one of the most interesting things to watch was how quickly ideas are turned into reality in the startup space - it took only a few weeks between the initial in-person meeting with the company and the production of the initial prototype, and really only a few more weeks for the prototype to be more or less finalized. I feel this sense of urgency is important to enact meaningful change.

The experience has also made me think more about how frame sustainability issues from a more business-oriented perspective; while I personally consider sustainability to be a societal priority, businesses need to be able to justify change from financially and operationally as well.

Since going full time at the beginning of April, though, most of my focus has been on a report I am working on regarding the global market for reusable packaging and the key players currently in the space. It is a slightly different approach to research than I had gotten used to at school, with a greater focus on corporate and industry sources over academic journals, and a greater emphasis on conciseness over extensive theoretical backing. This is something I think I will be revisiting through the period, especially as I start thinking about the final report for this course as well.

Internship at Revolution Race Blog 1/3

I have now spent a couple of weeks at RevolutionRace, and I am really enjoying my internship so far. RevolutionRace is a Swedish outdoor clothing company founded in Borås in 2014. The company focuses on creating functional, colorful, and affordable outdoor clothing, sold mainly through its own online channels directly to customers. 

I am part of the Growth and Marketplace team, where much of the work is directly visible to customers. It has been exciting to see how many different parts of the company work together to create a strong brand and a smooth online experience.

One of the things I have enjoyed most is getting the opportunity to visit different departments across the company, including customer service, the studio and photography team, and the e-commerce team that builds and maintains the website. It has given me a much better understanding of everything that happens behind the scenes and how different teams contribute to the final customer experience.

So far, I have worked on updating brand stores for the spring season by changing images, text, videos, and links to improve the customer journey. I have also helped with administrative setup, updated product detail pages for new products, joined meetings with external partners, and taken part in planning newsletters and Amazon push notifications for May and June.

What I find most interesting is seeing how much work happens behind the scenes before a customer clicks "buy." Even small changes, such as updating an image or improving a link, can make a difference in how customers experience a brand. It has been a great start to my internship, and I am looking forward to learning even more in the coming weeks.