NEWSLETTERS
EDITORIAL Dear readers, This is our double issue for July and August, so we hope that you will enjoy your summer break and perhaps use the down-time to reflect on your ventures in the first half of 2025 and prepare for new ones in a productive autumn. While winding down and thinking of summer holidays we are also deep in preparations for Avantex in Paris this September - please take a look below and know that you are cordially invited to participate! Have a happy summer and enjoy the inspirations below.
During a recent visit to Belgium, Frédérique Thureau, head of Cedecs-TCBL, visited two Centexbel labs to learn more about their latest work in bio-based textiles. This is her report. Visiting two Centexbel labs in Kortrijk and Ghent provided the opportunity to reflect on the importance of technological centers for fellow researchers, partners, SMEs and industry clients of the Textile and Clothing sector. Even if each of these Centexbel labs is fairly specialised, what was most striking was the level of human expertise required to make all those machines “work”. In fact, researchers and engineers are working hand in hand to design tests and provide the best usage of the equipment. Researchers and engineers carefully co-design procedures choosing criteria for success and number of iterations. Kortrijk Lab is dedicated to melt spinning and extrusion, which transforms polymers into filaments. Human expertise lies in the careful recipes that will decide the right filament for a given application, its diameter, length, uniformity or weight, elasticity. Each recipe starts with dry and premium resources, continues with heat and speed, and requires specific settings of the machine and human eyes and hands to check the batch and iterate. Bio-based polymers are more delicate to work with as they come often from less controlled, seasonal sources such as food waste, wood or agricultural products and textile specific variants are not always available.
TCBL Association , invited to participate, as associate partner in the mid-term conference of the TexDan project in Zagreb on 12 June 2025. TexDan consortium includes 14 Project partners (included TCBL founding partner REGINNOVA ) and 6 Associated partners that come from 11 countries in the Danube Region and 1 international association. From textile marketplaces to bio-based materials, the circular fashion movement is gaining serious momentum across Central and Eastern Europe. TexDan intends to define a vision for circular textile and fashion value chains in the Danube region and will support local companies’ pilot projects to achieve increased circularity in the design, production, reuse, recycling of the regional textile and clothing sector. TCBL Association experts Alice Gras and Luca Leonardi moderated the pitching session of TexDan pilot projects, and suggested improvements to make those more effective. The selected pilots work at the intersection of sustainability, design, and innovation. SMEs and startups pitching on stage were Textiloop (CR), Sabant (CR), Galeb (CR), Pink Ponilo (HU), TSMP sro (SK), ARCA CHrast sro (SK) and ArTech Inzenjering (RS) while Magbago (BiH) , Sens21 Concept SRL (RO) and TXB Group sro (CZ), KARMA Gloves (HU) joined online. Their stories reveal a vibrant ecosystem focused on upcycling, circular platforms, and alternative materials, all aiming to redefine the future of fashion. • Turning Waste into Value: Tech & Platform Innovations Textiloop (Croatia) – A Marketplace for Textile Waste A B2B SaaS platform optimizing real-time textile waste exchange. Already trusted by six suppliers, Textiloop now aims to attract more partners and clients. • From Brewery to Bio-Leather: Radical Material Alternatives Sabant (Croatia) – Beer Skin™ & Gin Skin™ Sabant transforms brewing and distilling byproducts into premium plant-based leather alternatives. With products like Beer Skin™ and Gin Skin™, the brand is positioning itself as a luxurious and sustainable material supplier. • Heritage Meets Circular Action: Manufacturer Transitions Galeb (Croatia) – Circular Knitwear Pioneer With 314 employees, Galeb blends heritage knitwear (B2B & B2C) with a commitment to waste reduction and regional cooperation. The company seeks to enhance its visibility through a revamped website and sustainability-focused social media strategy. • Independent Studios & Emerging Voices Pink Ponilo (Hungary) – Studio Rooted in Sustainability This design and production studio is already part of the TCBL network. Its main ambition is client acquisition, supported by a clearer articulation of its added value and a stronger marketing strategy.
EDITORIAL Dear readers, In the TCBL network, we are concerned with the deep transformation of the Textile and Clothing sector. In this month’s newsletter, find some food for thought to be applied to your own innovative and developmental paths, whether from a systemic or entrepreneurial perspective. Happy reading!
EDITORIAL Dear readers, In this newsletter, you will have the opportunity to replay our VETRINE event on overconsumption, understand the power of VR and Smart platforms of GRENOBLE INP who supports ViDi courses, and become familiar with the launch of our TCBL Wool group. Also a selection of inspiring thoughts and events. Happy reading!
EDITORIAL Dear readers, please find news on VETRINE online event (23 April 2025), SHOEDES sustainable footwear winning prototypes from 6 countries and French winners, AI MODELS that can be used in manufacturing and INSIGHTS from Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris. Happy reading!
EDITORIAL Dear readers, in this newsletter we offer you the latest from the VETRINE project by TCBL’s Alexandra Korey, the ViDi project about visually-based qualty control of production, and mapping interim results from FABRIX project. Plus some INSPIRATION news and your upcoming events AGENDA. Happy reading!
EDITORIAL Dear readers, in this newsletter we offer you reflections on cities (Fabrix) and numerous training resources on the textile & clothing sector (Herewear, Shoedes, Vetrine) emphasizing the need for inclusion (Shemakes). Happy reading!
EDITO Thank you, dear readers, for following our monthly project news, inspirations and meetings. Wishing you for 2025 to develop your sustainable innovations, your creativity and your organizations to live well together. Happy reading!
Sustainable Future Politico An interview, a discussion and two round tables closed the European Sustainability Week organized under the aegis of Politico, and among the important themes: the fight against soil erosion, the need to move to industrial scale for zero impact technologies, the revision of REACH and the expected acceleration of 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). On December 5, Politico hosted an event in Brussels to mark the closure of its Sustainability Week. The event featured several discussions and interviews, highlighting important issues and future directions for sustainability in the EU. The event began with an interview with Spain’s Agriculture Minister, Luis Planas. He emphasized the importance of protecting soil from erosion and using water with high precision. Planas noted that in his view farmers are increasingly open to adopting new practices and changes that promote sustainability. Following this, a Fireside Chat on the Clean Industrial Deal took place. The discussion underscored the need for reworked chemical safety regulations and acknowledged that zero impact technologies and industrial solutions are not yet sufficiently advanced. One of the speakers highlighted the necessity of establishing repair stations. There were also concerns expressed about the potential perverse effects of a diesel ban, particularly in Eastern and Central Europe. The chat included a discussion on the fairness of ‘eco taxes’ and their impact on different segments of society. The third segment of the event was a panel discussion titled ‘Chemically Yours - EU’s Chemical Future.’ The panelists discussed the ongoing revision of REACH, stressing the need for a modernized and digitized approach rather than a simplified one. The competitiveness of the EU plastics industry was also a major topic, with a noted 8% decrease in production last year attributed to high energy prices and regulatory influences. The panelists agreed that while regulation can drive competitiveness, the high cost of sustainable solutions remains a barrier for many, including end-users. The final panel discussion focused on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). It was highlighted that the EU has been weak in implementing high R-strategies such as reduce and reuse, which have been overlooked so far. The need for a monitoring body to ensure accurate reporting by Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) was emphasized. Additionally, the panel stressed that public authorities must do more to improve collection, sorting, and recycling efforts. Overall, the event provided valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities in advancing sustainability within the EU. Guy Buyle, Centexbel (BE) More on the video