AVANTEX

At the end of three intensive days at the Avantex fair, where companies in the TCBL ecosystem pitched, showcased and shared knowledge, we’re already looking ahead to the 2027 edition, which will be the 30th year of Messe Frankfurt Paris and the fifth year that TCBL is partner of Avantex. We warmly invite you to plan on participating fully in this event in September 2027. Read the summary and find out what to look forward to next year.

FABRIX

The Fabrix project presented project results and held a workshop at the Ecosystex annual conference in Antwerp on September 23d, while looking forward to its final event in Rotterdam on October 7th. Urban Fashion Networks: systemic design and practice opens up the discourse explored by the project on the creation of urban circular ecosystems thanks to two keynote speeches that will open up the morning: Mariapaola Puglielli (Politecnico di Torino) on Visualizing textile ecosystems: A comparative network analysis of Lyon (FR) and Carpi (IT) and Sebastien Deviers (Lille area) on Developing a local community towards circularity. Find the full schedule and sign up to receive the live stream link - you can tune in for the parts you find most interesting!

TECHSTYLE

At the Avantex Fashion Fair in Paris, the TCBL team had the chance to share some TechStyle project results from our initial survey with brands, buyers, and students. Our discussions with designers and independents confirmed that many of them are still new to operational AI tools that could transform design, prototyping, sourcing, local manufacturing, quality checks, or logistics workflows revealing the need for training to develop AI-literate manufacturing.

Find out more about these results when Techstyle presents them at the ECOSYSTEX Insight Series Skills Edition, which will take place online on 16 October at 10:30 and is open to Ecosystex members - find info here.

GFSU

Green Fashion has just launched a creative ideas competition (deadline November 13) for vocational students and recent graduates (up to 6 months post-graduation) with sustainable fashion ideas at any stage of development (from idea to working prototype). The three highest ranked ideas receive a package designed to support further development and increase visibility within the European fashion ecosystem, as well as cash prizes for the first three places! Please spread the word and apply here!

New member! We’re pleased to welcome Athens Knit Lab as a new accredited TCBL Lab. AKL is the only 3D knitting lab in Greece and its goal is to help designers, start-ups and researchers move from idea to advanced prototype with less cutting waste and fewer post-production steps. With their extensive international expertise and state-of-the art machinery, they’re open to collaboration, training and consulting. Contact them via their profile on the TCBL website.

Center Rog in Ljubljana is taking applications for its 2026 Creathon. They seek 25 creatives aged 18-30 who, working together over just 48 hours, will address five different challenges led by internationally recognized mentors from various fields—from product design and architecture to textile design and interdisciplinary projects. Applications are due Tuesday, 6 October 2026 and the event takes place 23-25 November 2026. Info and application.

Fashion Green Hub Sourcing event in Paris: The Parisian fashion co-working Fashion Green Hub is having an in-person sale of deadstock pre and post consumer goods, from textiles to leathers and accessories, on October 10th - for which you can sign up here (it’s free). If not in Paris, check out their online fashion sourcing platform - either to buy or as inspiration!