(seminar + excursion)
INTERWOVEN
The textile industry faces notable challenges, including environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and overproduction which results in vast amounts of textile waste. Despite growing calls for sustainable practices, the sector remains entrenched in outdated methods, underscoring the need for systemic reform. However, advances in both traditional and cutting-edge technologies, alongside innovative systems, are creating new possibilities. Increasingly, solutions that are both environmentally and socially responsible are emerging.
This seminar will address the challenges facing the textile industry while exploring the technological and creative innovations that are driving its transformation. We will visit key locations, such as museums, research centers, progressive companies and designers, to examine how design and technology are converging in the pursuit of more sustainable textile production.
Furthermore, we will investigate how potential collaborations can shape applications ranging from systems and products to installations.
Visits in The Netherlands:
The TextielMuseum :
The TextielMuseum in Tilburg stands as a pivotal institution dedicated to preserving and advancing textile knowledge and techniques. Housed in a former textile factory, the museum boasts a rich collection that chronicles the history of the textile industry while reflecting the evolving practices that shape the future of textile design and production. As a research center, the museum fosters the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies, with the TextielLab playing a central role in daily experiments and collaborations among designers, artists, and experts.
During our visit, we will explore the full scope of textile production, from raw fibers to advanced weaving and (3D) knitting techniques. A tour of the TextielLab will showcase ongoing projects, including weaving, knitting, laser cutting and embroidery. Additionally, we will delve into the industrialization of textiles, examining the role of early factories and the impact of mechanization.
The museum’s extensive archives, including over 20,000 books on textiles and an impressive collection of textile projects and industrial heritage, provide invaluable resources for further research.
ByBorre :
Founded in 2015 by Borre Akkersdijk, ByBorre is a textile company and platform that challenges traditional textile design and production methods with a focus on sustainability, transparency, and innovation. ByBorre has gained recognition for its integration of digital technologies to address issues such as waste and inefficiency in conventional production processes. It fosters collaboration between knitters, digital specialists, and other creatives to explore new techniques. One of ByBorre’s key initiatives, the Textile Passport, aims to improve transparency within the textile supply chain.
Christien Meindertsma (TBC) :
Designer Christien Meindertsma examines the life cycles of products and raw materials, often documenting processes or creating commercial products. Her projects highlight local production, underutilized resources, and reveal the hidden processes of industrialization, promoting a deeper understanding of the materials (like wool) and products that surround us.
Kvadrat / Febrik :
Febrik, a part of Kvadrat, specializes in innovative knitted textiles, bridging a technique traditionally used in fashion with the realm of upholstery. Their designs combine distinct aesthetic qualities with technical performance, continuously evolving through research and development to adapt to a wide range of applications.
INTERWOVEN
The textile industry faces notable challenges, including environmental degradation, labor exploitation, and overproduction which results in vast amounts of textile waste. Despite growing calls for sustainable practices, the sector remains entrenched in outdated methods, underscoring the need for systemic reform. However, advances in both traditional and cutting-edge technologies, alongside innovative systems, are creating new possibilities. Increasingly, solutions that are both environmentally and socially responsible are emerging.
This seminar will address the challenges facing the textile industry while exploring the technological and creative innovations that are driving its transformation. We will visit key locations, such as museums, research centers, progressive companies and designers, to examine how design and technology are converging in the pursuit of more sustainable textile production.
Furthermore, we will investigate how potential collaborations can shape applications ranging from systems and products to installations.
Visits in The Netherlands:
The TextielMuseum :
The TextielMuseum in Tilburg stands as a pivotal institution dedicated to preserving and advancing textile knowledge and techniques. Housed in a former textile factory, the museum boasts a rich collection that chronicles the history of the textile industry while reflecting the evolving practices that shape the future of textile design and production. As a research center, the museum fosters the fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern technologies, with the TextielLab playing a central role in daily experiments and collaborations among designers, artists, and experts.
During our visit, we will explore the full scope of textile production, from raw fibers to advanced weaving and (3D) knitting techniques. A tour of the TextielLab will showcase ongoing projects, including weaving, knitting, laser cutting and embroidery. Additionally, we will delve into the industrialization of textiles, examining the role of early factories and the impact of mechanization.
The museum’s extensive archives, including over 20,000 books on textiles and an impressive collection of textile projects and industrial heritage, provide invaluable resources for further research.
ByBorre :
Founded in 2015 by Borre Akkersdijk, ByBorre is a textile company and platform that challenges traditional textile design and production methods with a focus on sustainability, transparency, and innovation. ByBorre has gained recognition for its integration of digital technologies to address issues such as waste and inefficiency in conventional production processes. It fosters collaboration between knitters, digital specialists, and other creatives to explore new techniques. One of ByBorre’s key initiatives, the Textile Passport, aims to improve transparency within the textile supply chain.
Christien Meindertsma (TBC) :
Designer Christien Meindertsma examines the life cycles of products and raw materials, often documenting processes or creating commercial products. Her projects highlight local production, underutilized resources, and reveal the hidden processes of industrialization, promoting a deeper understanding of the materials (like wool) and products that surround us.
Kvadrat / Febrik :
Febrik, a part of Kvadrat, specializes in innovative knitted textiles, bridging a technique traditionally used in fashion with the realm of upholstery. Their designs combine distinct aesthetic qualities with technical performance, continuously evolving through research and development to adapt to a wide range of applications.
- Dozent/in: Wieki Somers