Review: "WASTE! Rethinking textile waste." - Networking event on March 14 in Haslach
On March 14, 2025, the Textile Center Haslach (TZH) hosted a special network meeting as part of the Interreg project SYMCRAFT together with the Institute for Applied Industrial Research (IAGF) under the motto "WASTE! Rethinking textile waste".
The focus of the event was on developing concrete and future-oriented solutions for textile production waste - and demonstrating the potential that lies in cooperation between industry, crafts and design for the development of a circular economy.
The response was remarkable:
- 136 people registered - an impressive number that illustrates the great interest in the circular economy in the textile sector.
- 20 companies from all over Austria provided the project with residual materials from their production, which served as a valuable starting point for the development of innovative reuse approaches.
A day full of inspiration, exchange and visions for the future
After the welcome by the project team, which consisted of Christina Leitner, Andreas Selzer and Joanna Czekajlo from TZH, Heidrun Bichler-Ripfel and Madeleine Block from IAGF, the participants were treated to a varied program with keynote speeches by renowned experts:
- Lara Wernert (13 Rugs) showed how selvedges are turned into unique rugs.
- Christian Schimper (FH Wiener Neustadt) gave insights into textile recycling and current sustainability projects.
- Ute Ploier (Fashion & Technology, University of Art and Design Linz) spoke about design with secondary raw materials.
- Further contributions from Reinhard Backhausen, Marina Crnoja-Cosic (Textile ETP) and the Manaomea team rounded off the program.
From industry into the hands of designers
A particular highlight of the network meeting were the material stations, which provided a lively exchange during the breaks. Here, the industrial textile remnants provided by companies were individually presented, examined and discussed. Interested craftspeople and designers had the opportunity to take selected materials directly with them using a voucher - as inspiration and a starting point for developing new ideas and applications in the spirit of the circular economy.
Circular economy becomes part of teaching
Thanks to close networking with the art universities in Linz, Salzburg and Vienna, the Symcraft topic "Circular economy in the textile sector" has been successfully integrated into the curricula for the next two semesters.
Students from the fields of art, design and fashion will take an in-depth look at industrial textile waste as part of their courses - with the aim of developing creative, practical and forward-looking solutions. Teachers and students have already taken material packages with them to the network meeting, which will now serve as a starting point for creative experiments, product ideas and concepts.
Shaping the future together
The network meeting was not only a complete success in terms of SYMCRAFT's project objectives, but also an inspiring example of how creative networks and regional players can jointly rethink waste as a resource and develop tangible solutions.
We would like to thank all participants, supporters and companies for their commitment!
Website Textiles Center Haslach
