Amsterdam, 5 February 2026 — The European Union is backing The Fabricant, an Amsterdam-based fashion technology start-up, to develop an AI-driven initiative aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Europe’s fashion industry. Developed in collaboration with University of the Arts London ( London College of Fashion), the project, Image to Pattern, automates the conversion of design sketches into production-ready patterns, one of fashion’s most manual and under-digitised processes.
The initiative has been selected for the EIT Culture & Creativity programme and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology.
From Vision to Execution: Building the Future of Fashion Development
As part of The Fabricant’s AI-powered Intelligent Tools suite, Image to Pattern will unlock the next stage of automation by transforming the time intensive, technical process of pattern drafting into a seamless, AI-driven flow. With the potential to reduce development cycles from days to minutes, eliminate wasteful prototyping, and empower creators to redefine what’s possible for designers at every level, from independents to global brands.
The solution is backed by robust R&D, user testing, and industry collaboration. It’s designed for integration into existing digital workflows, ensuring accessibility and scalability across the fashion ecosystem by 2026.
This collaboration is also a powerful statement in favour of industry collaboration. It brings together fashiontech pioneers, academic leaders, and forward-thinking manufacturers including Padma, United Textile Partners, and Becri Group. Together, we are building a new fashion infrastructure, one where technology increases efficiency and amplifies human creativity.
“By joining the EIT Culture & Creativity ecosystem, we are accelerating the transition towards a digitally-empowered European fashion industry that is more sustainable and economically prosperous.” Adriana Pereira, Co-Founder The Fabricant
“With our 120-year history of fashion education, we at London College of Fashion are excited to be part of this important collaboration. This offers a wonderful opportunity to share our expertise in design, pattern cutting and fit education to contribute to creative solutions for the future of fashion.” Claudine Rousseau, Dean School of Design and Technology, London College of Fashion.
About The Fabricant
The Fabricant is a leading AI-powered platform, digitalizing the fashion value chain. We build intelligent tools to empower creators to design, trade, and produce fashion without physical waste or limitations.
About EIT Culture & Creativity
EIT Culture & Creativity is an EU initiative powered by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT). Its mission is to strengthen Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries by supporting innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
About London College of Fashion
Part of University of the Arts London, London College of Fashion is a global leader in fashion education, research, and innovation. UAL is renowned for pushing the boundaries of fashion’s role in society, economy, and culture.
About Industry Partners
Padma Textiles is a multinational fashion industry partner that combines bespoke design services with global garment manufacturing across multiple categories, producing for major brands while emphasising sustainability and collaborative innovation.
United Textile Group A/S is a Danish textile manufacturer specialising in the end-to-end development and production of quality jersey garments for established fashion brands, with integrated processes from design to delivery and certified factories in Europe and Asia.
Becri Group is a Portuguese circular-knit garment specialist, established in 1983, with end-to-end R&D and in-house manufacturing expertise, and a focus on innovation in fashion and technical applications.
