Success stories

Leyre Kyma a 24-year-old from Spain dreams of launching a sustainable fashion brand that transforms discarded fabrics into innovative designs. Her vision includes creating recycling points to minimize textile waste and inspire eco-conscious fashion. Through the EYE programme, Leyre spent four months in Berlin collaborating with Anekdot - a sustainable underwear brand founded by Sofie. This experience offered her invaluable insights into sustainable business practices. Sofie launched Anekdot in 2015, to create stylish lingerie and swimwear from surplus fabrics. Her goal is to push the boundaries of upcycling while maintaining high quality and affordability. Hosting Leyre allowed Sofie to share her expertise, while gaining fresh creative perspectives for her brand.

The exchange between Leyre and Sofie was both collaborative and transformative. Leyre quickly became an integral part of Anekdot’s operations, gaining practical experience in brand management, order handling and designing pieces tailored to customer preferences. She also contributed to marketing and social media campaigns. Leyre deepened her understanding of ethical production and sourcing surplus materials. Sofie’s guidance helped Leyre refine her business vision, providing practical strategies to turn fabric waste into innovative creations. Sofie benefited from Leyre’s fresh perspective and creative ideas, which brought new energy to Anekdot’s projects. Leyre’s approach to fabric reuse and sustainable design introduced innovative methods that aligned with Anekdot’s ethos, inspiring Sofie to explore new opportunities for upcycling and product development. This partnership opened doors to potential collaborations and fresh creative approaches for Sofie’s brand.

Thanks to the exchange, Leyre gained practical experience in sustainable brand management, developed a refined business plan focused on reducing textile waste, built wew professional contacts and creative insights. On the other hand, Sofie gained fresh ideas for upcycling processes and designs, reinforced Anekdot’s sustainable mission, and found inspiration for future collaborations to expand her brand globally. Looking ahead, Leyre is preparing to launch her brand while Sofie continues to grow Anekdot as a leader in sustainable fashion. Their collaboration showcases the impact of the EYE programme in fostering innovation and sustainability across borders. "The Erasmus exchange program has provided me with valuable skills and insights that have helped shape my approach to building a sustainable brand" shares Leyre.  "This exchange was a great learning experience, bringing fresh ideas and fostering collaboration.” — Sofie, Founder of Anekdot. Both entrepreneurs are committed to a greener, more sustainable future in fashion.