Review: SYMCRAFT - Study Visit in Haslach - "Waste! Rethinking textile waste" - Creative impulses for the circular economy
On Monday, March 17, 2025, project partners from the Interreg Central Europe project SYMCRAFT from four countries (Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and the Czech Republic) traveled to Haslach for a one-day study visit to the Textile Center Haslach (TZH) to learn about the initial results and experiences from the large networking event (on March 14) and from the first co-creation workshop (from March 15 to 17) with designers. Together with designers, craftspeople and industry representatives, they worked on rethinking industrial textile waste as a valuable resource and developing initial product and process ideas.
A day full of textiles, technology and team spirit
After a warm welcome with coffee and cake, the TZH team gave a tour of the manufactory, museum and modern machinery - from the still-functioning loom from the 19th century to digital weaving machines for the surface production of textiles.
The open workshop atmosphere encouraged an informal exchange with the designers who were completing their workshop that day.
Which waste or leftovers were experimented with?
- Cotton, wool, linen
- Viscose and mixed fabrics (PP, PES)
- Special waste such as fire hoses, hygiene fleece, car carpet offcuts
Thanks to the cooperation with more than 20 Austrian textile companies, which provided their leftovers or waste, completely different raw materials could be combined and tested for their design potential - from coarse yarn to thermoplastic surfaces.
First ideas and prototypes
- upcycling accessories - bags, caps and seat cushions made from fire hose and selvedges
- interior elements - acoustic panels and room dividers made from wool punched scraps
- lampshades and carpet alternatives - coarse wool yarn structures for soft surfaces
The idea of twisting wool selvedges into a thick do-it-yourself yarn that can later be felted or knitted was particularly convincing.
Our learnings
- Interdisciplinarity pays off - designer know-how meets industry reality.
- Time and space - Even a compact three-day format is enough to get ideas off to a good start and make creativity and potential visible.
- Think ahead! - The group wants a clear roadmap on how prototyping, production and marketing can be scaled up on a small studio scale.
What comes next?
SYMCRAFT will translate the findings into modular workshop kits and pass them on and develop them further in transnational workshops with the project partners.
At the same time, a business model is being developed that connects industry and creative professionals in order to sustainably promote the textile circular economy.
