ArtEZ-led research community receives SPRONG grant for research into a sustainable textile value chain
- Design
- Fashion
- Research
The textile sector is one of the biggest polluters worldwide due to its enormous water and energy consumption, large-scale CO2 emissions and, above all, a lot of textile waste. To help change this for the better, the research group 'New Textile Ecosystems (abbrieviated: New Texeco) receives a SPRONG grant worth 2 million euros from Regieorgaan SIA. In this research group, ArtEZ, Saxion and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences join forces to accelerate the transition - and research - towards a sustainable textile value chain, with design as the main pivot.
From polluting fast fashion to a sustainable textile sector
It is impossible to imagine our society without textiles: they provide protection as clothing and as interior textiles, as well as creating and expressing our individual, social and cultural identities. Some 60% of all textiles made are for clothing. Today's clothing industry is characterised by fast fashion: a mass production and cost-price-driven system of rapidly succeeding clothing collections, of low quality with short life cycles. Consequences are poor working conditions in many textile and clothing producing countries, and pollution of the environment by toxic substances used. Things can and must change.
European regulations state that the textile sector must become more sustainable and fully circular by 2050. ArtEZ, Saxion and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences are combining their research capacity in fashion and textiles to accelerate the transition to alternative, sustainable textile value chains together with regional and (inter)national partners.
A sustainable future with a key role for design
ArtEZ professors Jeroen van den Eijnde (Tactical Design) and Daniëlle Bruggeman (Fashion) are initiators of this project. "With this research group, we are joining forces for sustainable textiles and fashion in the Netherlands," says Van den Eijnde. For the ArtEZ professor, this SPRONG grant from Regieorgaan SIA is a recognition of - and response to - the urgency of a transition to a sustainable society
We will have to make major strides nationally and internationally in the coming years, especially within the most polluting sectors such as textiles. Sustainable, circular and regenerative design will play a key role in this”
Would you like to stay updated on this project and be curious to know how New Texeco will proceed? Follow the latest developments on New Texeco project page. Here you will find more information and relevant links. This page will also be filled with behind-the-scenes stories in the coming years.
Visit the project page of New Texeco
About New Texeco
New Texeco stands for New Ecosystems in Textiles, New Texeco for short, and consists of professors from ArtEZ, Saxion and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and 32 partners. ArtEZ is the leader of this research group. In addition, the community consists of fashion and textile companies and designers from the creative sector. For a complete overview of all partners, see New Texeco-project page. This research is co-funded by Regieorgaan SIA, part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
About the SPRONG grant
With SPRONG, Regieorgaan SIA encourages cooperation between research groups from different universities of applied sciences with the potential to develop into a powerful SPRONG group. The SPRONG groups work together with public institutions, other knowledge institutions and the business community, among others, to combine knowledge and expertise around social issues.