How to strengthen the European capacities on Advanced Textiles (15/05/20)
How can the advanced textiles sector help in crises like the COVID-19 crisis? And how can advanced textiles strengthen the recovery of the European economy?
The European Alliance Against Coronavirus had two guests who shared their projects:
- Lisa Lang, The Powerhouse Group, a European think tank for warable technologies and smart textiles, and
- Vincenzo Linarello, GOEL Cooperative Group, a non-profit community movement in southern Italy building a sustainable economy.
Both have found ways to successfully support the local economy by producing face masks or a sustainable fashion brand, teaming up with artists, and using textiles produced in Europe. One project followed by the Powerhouse Group is adapting protective gear to female fit. For these projects, their experience is that the model of a cooperative as well as cluster systems have proven to be resilient and adaptable.
DOWNLOAD ALL THE MINUTES OF THE DAILY MEETING
ECA daily minutes 15.05.2020.pdf Summary_How to strengthen the European capacities on Advanced Textiles for fighting crisis as the one caused by the COVID19_20200515.pdfFurther links:
- The CAPAZ project: https://fndmt.eu/the-capaz-project/
- Cangiari sustainable brand: https://cangiari.it/en
Replies
The Textile Example
The two presentations in the session of today were very interesting. Two main ideas I retain from them - the importance of giving innovation and creativity a central role in the reinventing of the textile sector, well exemplified by the experience of the Powerhouse Group in Portugal with these projects that mobilize the artists to this new challenge; and this fantastic idea of community enterprises, joining ideas and capacities in a very beautiful region of Italy to fight the system and the crisis.