On 1 December 2025, the official opening of the Centre for 3D Concepts in the Fashion Industry (3D Hub KNUTD) took place at the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design as part of the ERASMUS-EDU-2023-CBHE-STRAND-2 project ‘3D concepts for fashion education in Ukraine’ (ID101128856), implemented in partnership between higher education institutions in Greece, Germany, Romania and Ukraine. During the event, which was held in a hybrid format, speeches were delivered by representatives of the university management, as well as international and Ukrainian partners of the project.
The KNUTD 3D Hub is a unique and innovative educational and technological space that combines the capabilities of digital modelling, biomechanical analysis and additive manufacturing to create individual solutions in the fields of fashion, orthopaedics and design.
During the opening of the 3D Hub, welcoming speeches were given by Oleksandra Olshanska, the acting rector of KNUTD, Liudmyla Hanushchak-Yefimenko, vice-rector for scientific and international activities, and Golda Vinogradska, chair of the board of Fashion Globus Ukraine. Representatives of European partner institutions also participated in the event: Evridiki Papachristou, project coordinator from the International Hellenic University (Greece), Mariana Costea, representative of the George Asachi Technical University of Iași (Romania), and Olena Kyzymchuk, representative of the Dresden University of Technology (Germany).
The speeches emphasised the practical value of the Hub: accelerating model development, reducing prototyping costs through 3D printing, improving accuracy and ergonomics through digital foot scanning and gait analysis, and the ability to create customised products and training programmes for students and production. It was emphasised that the Hub should become a point of intersection between education, research and business cooperation for the Ukrainian light industry.
Oleksandr Bondar, head of Prime Shoes LLC, acknowledged that the KNUTD 3D Hub could be beneficial for Ukrainian footwear manufacturers, as it provides comprehensive technologies to accelerate development, improve accuracy and customise products.
The practical demonstration included a presentation of the software's capabilities for modelling clothing and footwear, 3D scanning for creating personal avatars, and examples of printing prototypes on a 3D printer. Project implementers Nataliia Pervaia and Liliia Chertenko noted that the Hub is already ready to support training courses, teacher training, and joint developments with manufacturers.
The work of 3D4U Hub is focused on providing access to modern 3D technologies for modelling and prototyping in the fashion industry. It is equipped with modern technology for digital modelling, 3D scanning and 3D printing: high-performance workstations with specialised software such as CLO, V-stitcher, ICad3D+Pro, Mind CAD and Rhino 8 Easy CAD for creating digital models of clothing, footwear and accessories. Some of the software was obtained through a grant, while others were obtained through educational licences. To confidently use such technologies in the educational process, scientific and pedagogical staff of the Department of Fashion Technology of the Faculty of Arts and Fashion are improving their qualifications at European higher education institutions that are partners of the project and specialise in digital technologies in the fashion industry: the International Hellenic University, Dresden University of Technology, and the Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi.
KNUTD plans to develop training modules on 3D technologies, hold master classes, open access for student start-ups, and strengthen partnerships with businesses for practical orders and joint research. The 3D Hub has the potential to become a platform for modernising local production and entering new markets thanks to digital prototyping and customisation technologies.
We express our sincere gratitude to all project partners, as well as the KNUTD administration, scientific and teaching staff, and business representatives for their significant contribution to the creation and development of the KNUTD 3D Hub. Thanks to your support, professionalism, and shared commitment to innovation, this space is becoming a powerful platform for the development of education, science, and the fashion industry in Ukraine.
22.12.2025
