- In the webinar held last Wednesday, new projects related to circularity and sustainability in the textile industry were presented.
The European project CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster held an event on Wednesday 21 December with the aim of getting to know new innovative projects and establishing relationships and synergies between the different participants of the webinar. The event «Nextextilegeneration: Innovating in fashion and circular textiles», counted with the intervention of experts in the industry who contributed with their knowledge, and a networking space was created in which attendees and speakers could share opinions and create synergies.
David Allo, Head of Sustainability at Texfor, opened the meeting thanking the experts for their attendance and participation as speakers. Subsequently, the first section of the event began, which consisted of the presentation of innovative projects in the textile and fashion sector. Manuela Bonilla, Project Manager at Inescop explained the objectives of the Footwear Technology Centre, an innovation and technology centre that provides technological services, knowledge transfer and research on topics of general interest for the footwear sector. The next project presented was Adelante 2, by Gizette Lemus, representative of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, who explained the objective of sharing the knowledge of the entities of the alliance to develop and apply support models for companies in the fashion sector, characterised by the promotion of sustainable production.
The panel continued with the participation of Paloma García, Founder of The Circular Project, who presented a new project, All-Invest Verde, which aims to promote the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy in Lima (Peru). Then it was the turn of Sharam Yalda, Founder of HumanNation, who spoke about Create, an Erasmus+ project in collaboration with IED that aims to produce a new apprenticeship programme for women to co-create a sustainable fashion collection.
Almudena Blanco, EU Project Officer at the Finnova Foundation, closed the panel with a presentation on the CirCoAX by CircularInnoBooster project and all the progress and achievements that have been made thanks to the CirCoAX accelerator.
The event ended with a round of questions and private networking sessions, where the different attendees and speakers were able to share information and discuss topics related to the textile sector and European projects.
About COSME
COSME is the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises programme of the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME).
Through this programme, assistance is provided to SMEs to help them develop their business models, access finance, and internationalise. It also supports public administrations in improving the business environment and facilitating economic growth in the European Union. During the 2014-2020 funding period, this programme earmarked €2.3 billion to support SMEs.
About IED
Istituto Europeo di Design is an academic institution operating in the field of education, training, and research in the disciplines of design, fashion, visual communication, and management. IED has branches in Spain (Madrid and Barcelona), Italy (Milan, Rome and 5 other cities) and Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro). It operates in several EU and COSME countries through partnerships and agreements with institutions, business support organisations, teachers, experts, and mentors. IED is based on a wide network of connections in the F&T (Fashion and Textile) sector.
About Finnova
Finnova is a foundation working for the promotion and development of innovation and entrepreneurship at EU level. Based in Brussels, it operates through collaborations and partnerships in all EU countries. Finnova’s expertise in leading European project communication and dissemination activities is combined with a strong proven track record in start-ups and business support programmes, such as accelerators, incubators and selection and award ceremonial events.
About Texfor
Texfor is the textile association of reference in Spain with 400 members. Founded in November 2010 and based in Catalonia, it brings together companies from the entire textile value chain, from yarns to fabrics through accessories, finishing processes, printing, and dyeing for the garment industry, home textiles and technical / industrial applications. Texfor has expertise and experience, having worked in important expert committees at EU level: university and vocational training, financial capacity building, transversal collaboration, promotion of R&D&I, specialised services, and leadership in sustainability with a focus on the circular economy.
About Circulab
Circulab is a laboratory and business design studio specialising in the development of methodologies, tools, and transformation programmes to help companies develop circular and sustainable business models. Circulab has designed a set of tools to implement the circular economy model in companies. It operates in more than 23 countries, 9 of them in the European Union, supporting projects through more than 60 independent business consultants, applying the circular methodology and tools.
About The Circular Project with HumanNation TCP (The Circular Project) supports and promotes circular and sustainable fashion in different areas, offering the fashion industry a communication strategy based on a cross-cutting and systemic approach to the circular economy. TCP combines social, ethical, environmental, and economic aspects, and has a strong presence and connections in the world of sustainable fashion. TCP has promoted the Circular Sustainable Fashion Week in Madrid, a unique event of its kind, and acts as the headquarters of the Spanish Association for Sustainability, Innovation and Circularity in the Fashion Industry. TCP is also an ambassador for Sannas (Triple Bottom Line Business Association) and has collaborated with a wide range of Spanish, European and Latin American institutions, and companies. The Circular Project is working with Human Nation to co-design and develop CirCoAX. HumanNation is a consulting firm specialising in the development of innovation ecosystems and transformative and disruptive companies for the “new economy”. It is based on the fourth economic sector, systems thinking and co-creation. It sensitises organisations and ecosystems to respect planetary boundaries and the social fabric, creating resilient local economies with a global perspective.
