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In Twente, high-value textile recycling gained interest in the
1990s, which is unsurprising considering the city’s rich textile
manufacturing history. A pilot production capacity for high-value
recycling now exists, and its focus is on innovations in mechanical
and chemical recycling. The initiators are seeking funds to scale
up the pilot together with designers and manufacturers. These
new funds should go hand in hand with large-scale collection,
intricate sorting and application of recycled fibres in design and
production.
In Tilburg, efforts are concentrated on the separate collection of
workwear, the fiberisation of materials and reusing recycled fibres
in new workwear. In this city, an innovative company that started
recycling workwear leads in promoting the hub and is supported
by the local government.
In Arnhem-Wageningen, circular economy craftsmanship and
the manufacturing of new biomaterials for textiles are being
developed, such as mycelium and fruit ‘leather’ and bacterial and
algal dyes. Wageningen University and Fashion Academy ArtEZ in
Arnhem have joined forces to set up the Future of Living Materials,
BioArt Laboratories.
In the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, various initiatives have been
combined, linking a variety of slow fashion start-ups and scaleups
to interested clothing labels, many of which are located in this
region. The idea is to inspire these labels to embed circular design
and new business models in their strategy and to encourage them
to work together with innovative start-ups and scale-ups. The
Amsterdam Economic Board coordinates the regional Amsterdam
hub. Since the DCTV launch in 2019, various initiatives have
gained momentum. LENA fashion library is one start-up receiving
assistance from the DCTV. Another example, which had gained
traction before the DCTV launch, is the House of Denim. The
House of Denim started with blending virgin cotton with recycled
fibres from discarded garments (Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR)),
thereby reducing the use of water considerably. Large-scale