Textiles innovation: now to the kitchen table!

NL NextFashion & Textiles has had a good 2018 so far. We established our own network thanks to ArtEZ, HvA, TMO, Saxion and Modint and will continue to work in this constellation next year. Four “Powered by CLICKNL” meetings marked our activities in 2018. We went from Arnhem to Amsterdam and maastricht and we will end this at the Modint office in Zeist. An overview.

The first was the network meeting at State of Fashion in Arnhem in june where we showed to over 70 people from the network in what directions research and innovations might go in clothing and apparel and who is involved. Together with CLICKNL we will keep advertising research in design, sustainability and digitisation together with Universities (of applied sciences), companies, start-ups and user groups, supported by governmental programs.
The second meeting in Amsterdam in September marked the end of a successful two year study by HvA (RAAK-project Passende mode via internet) on the techniques to reduce return sending from online sales. Better scanning, adjustment of fitting and better communication on sizing of clothes will help. About 115 people attended the meeting and the information market.

Shortly after that we met at a special meeting prior to the IAF Convention in Maastricht at the beginning of October, where 40 people from international fashion and textiles schools sat together with associations and companies and discussed future education and innovation in a round table called The Future of Fashion Education. Finally, on November 28, in Zeist, we are organising a seminar called “Is confectie mogelijk in Nederland” on the feasibility of garment production in the Netherlands. This seminar was fully booked two weeks ahead with 45 people filling the room.
Really great was all the interest in clothing and textiles in the media, including radio and national TV. Please find just a small selection in our newsletter below. Often from the negative sides of pollution and bad social circumstances, but even often reporting on new initiatives in sustainability and technical solutions. Textiles innovation has found its way from the laboratory to the design festivals and now to the kitchen table! We will continue supporting this from our PR activities where ever we can.

In 2019 we will continue organising events and we will keep drawing attention to the great opportunities the funding programs for the creative industry give to clothing and textiles companies. There are many chances to add value and establish a, in all ways, sustainable future. As we speak Universities are conducting and preparing research programs. Furthermore, our work is recognised more and more in The Hague as “Het Convenant Duurzame Kleding en Textiel” grows and another promising project, “The Dutch Circular Textile Valley”, is starting up. International fora like IAF and WTIN will help us expand internationally, as will partner projects already undertaken in Sri Lanka and Pakistan. All drivers for innovation and much needed given the global scope of the industry.
Many thanks for your involvement and keep sending in your news on future projects. One of the actions for the last month of this year 2018 is to make an overview of all these projects the NL NextFashion & Textiles partners are involved in which we will share as soon as possible.