Enhancing competence, expanding our network and sharing experiences is at the core of everything we do at Norwegian Fashion Hub. Our main membership offer is our Competence program which include short digital seminars between 10 and 12 times a year; courses between 2 and 4 times a year, as well as dialogue meetings. All of these offerings fall under the so-called Fashionably program.
In addition to the Fashionably program we run both short- and long-term projects based on current needs with groups of our members, often in partnership with the industry cluster NF&TA.
Ongoing Projects
AMPLIFY THE FUTURE
Sustainability accelerator
It is through new ideas and solutions that the world will be able to overcome the challenges we are facing today and thus create the sustainable future we all want, and startups are important contributors to creating a more sustainable world. EY has launched a sustainability-oriented accelerator program called EYs Amplifier. The program gives sustainability-oriented startups access to their services and competency network. The program is carried out once in the autumn and once in the spring, where up to 10 startups are invited to participate in each cycle. Partnering with competent and inspiring resources builds strength and reach. Therefore Norwegian Fashion Hub is partner in EYs Amplifier. Read more about ut here: https://www.ey.com/no_no/eys-amplifier
FASHIONABLY PROGRAM
Seminars, courses and sharing
Connecting our member brands to the academic community — in addition to industry leaders — stimulates the industry. Through a variety of educational courses, seminars, and collaboration with national and international experts under the Fashionably program, NFH works towards increasing the skills and knowledge for every brand. International trade, design, communication, IPR and how to structure and make use of data are some of the key topics. The seminars are designed to meet the needs for competence from our members, and are important network arenas for the cluster.
NORWEGIAN FASHION ABROAD
International position
Access to global markets and positioning of Norwegian fashion internationally is one of NFH’s main strategy areas. The project Norwegian Fashion Abroad, was established in 2014. The purpose of the project is to strengthen Norwegian fashion's position and competitiveness internationally, trough establishing networks, highlighting market opportunities and increase the industry’s knowledge of specific international markets. Since 2014 NFH has hosted several curated events in Copenhagen, Tokyo, Shanghai, New York and Paris, developed market scans and established collaborative relationships with international actors.
SDA BOCCONI
Fashion Skills for Scale
In collaboration with Innovation Norway Italy, NFH offers a competence program specially designed for the Norwegian fashion industry at the world leading Fashion & Luxury knowledge Center SDA Bocconi in Milan. Through the course of one semester, selected companies attend seminars in Milan and Oslo, working on their business model and learning about scaling their business for international growth. The program has since 2015 had 27 companies participate in the program and one alumni gathering. The program is taught by renowned professors in the international fashion industry with state of the art knowledge.
DESIGNED BY LIFE
Positioning Norwegian fashion
The effortless and clean cut aesthetic that characterizes Scandinavian fashion has received massive attention in recent years. Together with the award winning agency TRIGGER our members have created a positioning concept called Designed by Life for the Norwegian Fashion Industry. In Norway, climate and lifestyle influence the way people dress, we expect design to compliment an active and modern lifestyle – but at the same time cater to the needs our climate dictates. That is why Norwegian fashion designers have perfected the art of creating design that both looks and feels good to wear, regardless of weather or occasion.
NORWEGIAN FASHION CHANGE
Diversity
This project aims to develop tools that make the fashion industry better equipped to challenge whiteness norms, counteract racism and work for diverse representation. together with Balansekunst, the project is going to produce insight, develop courses and an action plan for the industry. The goal of the action plan is to get companies to commit, and create a plan for the implementation of measures for a safer and more inclusive industry
INVEST IN FASHION
Expertise from investors
In collaboration with Startup Norway, we are now launching the program Invest in fashion. This is a program for those who are interested in meeting relevant national and international investors, and are ready to invest. The program consists of two days, where a selection of you get to pitch your concept to investors who want to contribute capital and expertise into Norwegian brands in fashion.
In partnership with NF&TA
WEST COAST NETWORK
Network development
This project is about targeted and joint investment in innovation and development of brands and production on the west coast of Norway. The ambitions of the network is to strengthen the market position by creating a sharing culture, collaboration on competence development, access to insights and business analysis, and the development of common systems and infrastructure. The combination of design, industry, and expertise in international markets represents great development opportunities in the region.
DIGITAL MARKET ACCESS
Internationalisation
New digital technologies in e-commerce are forever changing the market dynamics in the fashion industry. Digital commerce is not just about sales in online stores. The turnover now comes as a consequence of smart integrated solutions, where it is a matter of creating visibility and accessibility to achieve a position in a highly competitive global market. For companies, this means major internal restructuring and investment to develop and implement new systems. This project is about joining forces to develop digital platforms and internal resources through a dynamic structure. The goal of the project is to increase market shares for the players in the network through digital sales nationally and internationally.
NORWEGIAN SHOE NETWORK
Competence
The Norwegian shoe industry can boast of historical achievements, such as the internationally recognized shoe construction «Norwegian Welt» (Beksømsko) and being the origin of the «Penny Loafer» shoe (ref. Aurlandsskoen). The shoe industry today is facing a major restructuring in the entire value chain and has to find new solutions to meet the need for a circular value chain. The shoe network is a platform for sharing experiences, building competence and developing projects to strengthen competitiveness through sustainable restructuring nationally and internationally, increased innovation capacity and increased market position for Norwegian footwear brands.
Previous projects
ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSE
Norwegian Fashion Hub and SoFi
Norwegian Fashion Hub and School of Fashion Industry's (SoFI) have completed two entrepreneurship courses called Mote og Entreprenørskap (Fashion and Entrepreneurship). The course consists of 20 hours of lectures, over 5 evenings. This gives new entrepreneurs the opportunity to acquire business understanding from professionals in the fashion industry. The foundation of the course is based on a changing industry where the competition is tougher than ever, and an increasing necessity to focus on strong business ideas.
INNOVATION EXPRESS: MAKES
Scandinavian production
NFH is part of the Innovation Express project MAKES. The project is a collaboration between Manufacture Copenhagen, Lifestyle & Design Cluster in Denmark, Norwegian Fashion Hub and Swedish PROTEKO. Through the project, possibilities for textile production in the Nordic region are identified and highlighted. The purpose is to increase both contact and business between nordic brands and manufacturers.
SUSTAINABILITY
Innovation and restructuring
The global fashion and textile industry needs radical innovation and restructuring. Environmental threats and the need for sustainable practices is challenging the global value chain, design and production of textile as it is today. It’s an area of great complexity and big challenges for our industry. Transitioning towards a sustainable industry is a priority in the NFH strategy, and there are several ongoing projeacts to develop competence and tools. NFH has partnered with Ethical Trading Initiative Norway and has developed a cluster-pilot along with several projects. NFH also collaborate with OECD Norway, working with the the OECD guidelines for responsible business conduct in a global context.
Contact us for more information about our projects or if you have ideas for specific projects we should collaborate on.