With Fairfaktur, the Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin has deliberately broken new ground - and interpreted its established SAGE profile (Social Work, Health, Education and Training) from a new perspective. Fairfaktur combines social, ecological and cultural issues in an international context and thus makes an important contribution to critical reflection on consumption, responsibility and global solidarity - central topics that should also be given greater consideration in social science education in the future. The project impressively demonstrates that social justice does not end at national borders or traditional disciplines. Rather, it requires a global perspective, including production chains and working conditions in the so-called Global South. In addition to structures in social services, healthcare and education, economic structures such as the origin of our clothing or food - as well as the nature of our energy and digital infrastructure - are also relevant for solidarity in society.
Outlook: Beyond the SAGE horizon with Fairfaktur
We need a social economy - a way of doing business that is geared towards the common good, sustainability and fairness. The ASH Berlin Start-up Center is also addressing these issues (find out more here). It supports students and graduates in developing and implementing social entrepreneurial ideas that tackle social challenges in an innovative way.
Interdisciplinary collaboration as the key to success
Between October 2022 and December 2024, researchers from Alice Salomon Hochschule Berlin (ASH Berlin) and Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin (HTW Berlin) worked together with international fair trade stakeholders on pioneering ideas for a fairer fashion industry. The project was funded by the Institute for Applied Research Berlin (IFAF). Practical partners included the World Fair Trade Organization, Folkdays, El Puente, the Forum Fairer Handel and the design studio MM04.
The project team was led by Prof. Dr. Uwe Bettig (ASH Berlin) and Prof. Johanna Michel (HTW Berlin), with research assistance from Phillys Sawall, Lina Pfeifer and Dr. Philipp Kenel, supported by student assistants Lena Boderke, Carlotta Woyk and Marie Schorn.
A central feature of Fairfaktur was the close interdisciplinary collaboration. Scientists from the fields of management, fashion design, sustainability and social sciences worked together to find solutions to the challenges facing the fair trade fashion industry. This diversity of perspectives made it possible to take a holistic view of complex issues and develop innovative approaches.
➔ Read more: Read more in the Article "Many creative ideas and approaches" at Brain City Berlin...
Practical research and diverse methods
The project relied on a practice-oriented research approach that combined various methods:
- Design prototypes: Fashion Design students worked with fair trade companies to develop prototypes for clothing and accessories that are both aesthetically pleasing and marketable.
➔ Read more: At Campus Stories, the online magazine of HTW Berlin, Gisela Hüttinger's article "New target groups for fair trade products"... - Seminars with practical relevance: In a seminar "Advanced Social Economics and Social Management", students supported a Berlin world store in developing new sales strategies and gained valuable practical experience in the process.
- Surveys and interviews: Qualitative interviews with producers and a consumer survey were used to identify needs, challenges and potential in the fair trade sector.
Development of a practice-oriented toolkit
A key result of Fairfaktur is a comprehensive toolkit that supports fair trade companies in adapting their products and marketing strategies to the needs of new target groups. The toolkit offers practical recommendations for product design, market access and communication. It was developed in collaboration with the practice partners and is publicly accessible in order to benefit as many companies in the fair trade sector as possible.
Further results and the toolkit are available (online here).
➔ Read more: For further insights into the project and the perspectives of those involved, we recommend the Interview "3 questions for Prof. Dr. Uwe Bettig"...
Promoting cultural sustainability: International publication
"Fair Fashion? Interdisciplinary Perspectives in the Context of Social, Ecological, Economic and Cultural Sustainability"
In addition to ecological and economic aspects, Fairfaktur placed particular emphasis on the often neglected dimension of cultural sustainability. The project placed great emphasis on how traditional craftsmanship and cultural identities can be integrated into product design and marketing without lapsing into cultural appropriation.
The results of Fairfaktur were also incorporated into an interdisciplinary academic publication that examines fair trade in the context of sustainability discourses and alternative economic models. It brings together contributions from international practitioners and academics from renowned universities such as the New School in New York, Goldsmiths, University of London, and ETH Zurich and is available open access from Transcript Verlag.
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IFAF Berlin: a bridge between science and practice
The Institute for Applied Research Berlin (IFAF Berlin) is an association of the four state universities of applied sciences in Berlin: the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin (ASH Berlin), the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (BHT), the Berlin University of Applied Sciences (HTW Berlin) and the Berlin School of Economics and Law (HWR Berlin). Since its foundation in 2009, IFAF Berlin has been promoting practical and interdisciplinary research projects that are carried out in cooperation with regional companies, non-profit organizations and social institutions. The aim is to develop innovative solutions for current social challenges through the close integration of science and practice and to strengthen the transfer of knowledge and technology in the region.
A unique funding model with future prospects
IFAF Berlin is characterized by its structured funding architecture, which comprises programs that systematically build on one another: IFAF EXPLORATIV for initial research approaches and network formation, IFAF VERBUND to support interdisciplinary projects with practice partners and IFAF TRANSFER for the implementation of research results in concrete applications. A special feature is the mandatory involvement of practice partners in every funded project, which intensifies the dialog between science and practice and promotes sustainable results.
Despite its successes, IFAF Berlin faces challenges: Planned budget cuts by the state of Berlin could jeopardize the continuation of new project funding from 2026. Representatives from science and industry have therefore publicly spoken out in favor of maintaining this unique transfer structure, which is considered a model for cooperation between universities and practice partners.
➔ Read more: The in-depth interviews with Gesine Bär "Together for sustainable solutions" (on the IFAF homepage) and "Budget cuts mean slamming on the brakes for us" (on Inforadio) provide further insights.
