But over time, our relationship with textiles has changed.

This technology opens up extremely exciting possibilities.

How and where are our roots? How can we reconnect with deep human values and ancient knowledge and skills?

Local and recycled: Enschede Textielstad was founded in 2013 by Annemieke Koster to create responsibly produced fabrics from recycled yarns and local raw materials such as flax, hemp and wool for apparel and interior textiles.

The focus here is on circularity: it is about the recyclability of the material; a product made by Studio Sarmite can be dissolved at the end of its life and the textile fibres can be used for the next production cycle.

Bio-based, locally produced, on demand: that's MYCOTEX by NEFFA – a flexible material whose properties lie somewhere between leather, plastic and artificial leather

The textiles have the peotic power of tracing time. The changes in the colours make the ageing process visible and make transience a subject of discussion – spiritual as well as material.

When the programmers of KNITWEAR LAB teamed up with 3D software specialists, a completely new idea for more sustainable, cost-efficient and design-oriented pattern development and knitwear production emerged.

Bye bye, plastic! The long-term goal is to be able to replace virgin polyester as a raw material.

Simultaneously, they are eager to explore avenues for improving the customer journey, sustainability aspects, sourcing or design. It entails broadening their scope of responsibilities and possibilities.

This extremely thin, elastic and tear-resistant membrane, also called gold beater's skin, was used in the past as a separating layer when beating gold leaf.

What if the leftovers of freshly squeezed juice were not disposed of - but a new material could be created from it?

Designer Birke Weber and biochemist Friederike Hoberg are exploring the potential of alternative dyes - specifically, from mushrooms.

A world in which everything is becoming faster, more networked and more digital creates endless possibilities. But why always strive for the new instead of continuing the traditional?

Nature as 3D printer: Material designer and underwater photographer Zena Holloway creates shapes and forms from wheatgrass roots growing in self-carved molds made from beeswax.

Hair creates identity - we dye and style it, create new looks and expressions and thus assign ourselves to cultural or social groups. They lose their meaning and become garbage to be disposed of.