#Research & Development

2021-10-07

E-textiles: So hot right now!

Fraunhofer IZM and the weißensee academy of art in Berlin have opened a unique open innovation lab for prototyping textile electronics. Fitted with the latest in high-tech equipment and machines, the Textile Prototyping Lab (TPL) can turn e-textile visions into real fabrics and garments with its interdisciplinary team of scientists and artists.

Let’s make it official: 29 September 2021 will be a red letter day for all lovers of innovative textiles, with the Textile Prototyping Lab formally opened at Fraunhofer IZM in Berlin. The fabrics of the future will be electronic, as these two worlds, so far apart and unrelated at first sight, turn out to form the perfect symbiosis for many unexpected uses. The eponymous collaboration project was introduced in 2017 with the weißensee academy of art, Fraunhofer IZM, and other project partners and has already produced many creative and futuristic high-tech textiles. From garments with built-in sensors to stretchable design objects or intelligent industrial fabrics, there is much to be discovered for all lovers of fashion and high-tech enthusiasts.

© Fraunhofer IZM<br />
Textile electronics at your fingertips: At the opening of the Textile Prototyping Lab, the new devices could be tested live. — © Fraunhofer IZM Textile electronics at your fingertips: At the opening of the Textile Prototyping Lab, the new devices could be tested live.

The launch of the TPL represents the next major step for the team behind the initiative: They plan to use the cutting-edge facilities to explore new aspects and technologies for prototyping textile electronics and smart textiles and to immediately try out their ideas in the true spirit of open innovation.

Visitors from research, industry, and public administration as well as financial supporters and representatives from fashion and textile start-ups were present for the launch. The event gave them a unique opportunity to discover the modular lab and technical facilities, with highlights including a live demonstration of the advanced embroidering machines, cutter plotters, laminators, and a special 3D printer. All visitors could get their own designs and logos printed as a memento of the TPL’s launch.

Resources are there to be shared: The TPL’s motto could be felt in action right from its inception, as the opening of the new facilities was accompanied by an exhibition of interactive e-textile and smart textile samples, created in the joint project work and here showcased for the first time by the proud members of the TPL team.

As the crucible where the technological expertise of the Fraunhofer IZM researchers and the aesthetic visions of artists and designers come together, the TPL will be a hotbed for sharing knowhow and expertise across the divide between science and art and for co-creating e-textiles with a keen sense for modern designs.

For more information, visit:
http://www.textileprototypinglab.com

futureTEX

The venture is supported by the futureTEX project, winner of the “Twenty20 Partnership for Innovation” programme of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Research institutes, companies, and associations are focussing their efforts in 2021 on the building blocks for the future of traditional industries. The futureTEX consortium has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming a leading force for textile machine engineering and the textile industry as part of the fourth industrial revolution, with its sight set on forming the most advanced value creation network in Europe’s textile industry by 2030. The introduction of a new future concept will tackle the key issues of our time with partners from science and industry, including resource efficiency and the circular economy, flexible, customer-integrated value chains, novel textile products, knowledge and innovation management, work organization and talent development. The consortium includes no fewer than 300 active partners, seventy percent of whom hail from industry. The futureTEX project was also named as a landmark in the 2016 Land of Ideas competition.

TCLF: Resilient value chains in times of crises

The textiles, clothing, leather and footwear (TCLF) industry was at the centre of the webinar “Resilient value chains in times of crises”, which took place on 28 April 2026. Global supply chains continue to face increasing pressure, raw material dependencies are growing and economic uncertainties are affecting the entire sector.

Textile climate control system in workwear – exhibition at the 2026 SME Innovation Day!

Conventional protective workwear often reaches its limits during strenuous physical activity. In particular, the transport of sweat and excess body heat poses a problem. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) conducted research on flow-optimized, air-conducting textile structures that enable targeted climate control directly on the body. These structures can be integrated straight into protective work garments. The textile climate control system supports the body’s natural thermoregulation. This contributes to improved workplace safety and comfort.

Elastic yarns to become more recyclable and environmentally friendly in future

On 29 April 2026, ITA student Tobias Dickmeiß was awarded a sponsorship prize by the Wilhelm Lorch-Stiftung for his innovative approach, to replacing conventional elastane with elastic yarns made from thermoplastic copolyester elastomers (TPC). Thanks to their thermoplastic nature and compatibility with typical polyesters used in the textile industry, elastic TPC yarns offer improved recyclability. Furthermore, the use of the melt-spinning process in yarn production eliminates the need for solvents that are harmful to the environment and human health.

Walter Reiners Foundation Prize awarded to three ITA graduates

Sabina Dann, Lukas Balon and Annegret Storm from the Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University were awarded the Walter Reiners Foundation Prize by the German Engineering Federation (VDMA) for their master’s and bachelor’s theses. Peter Dornier, Chairman of the Walter Reiners Foundation, presented the awards during Techtextil at the VDMA stand in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Itema to showcase weaving excellence at ITM 2026

From June 9 to 13, Itema will exhibit at ITM 2026 in Istanbul (Hall 8 – Stand 806D), unveiling a distinctive exhibition concept designed to highlight the Company’s expertise across the entire weaving value chain. For this year’s edition, Itema will introduce an innovative stand experience built around two core areas: advanced weaving and spare parts solutions and an immersive textile gallery featuring fabrics produced by Itema Customers worldwide.

Last chance to apply: ITMA 2027 Start-Up Valley closes tomorrow

Applications for the Start-Up Valley at ITMA 2027 close tomorrow, offering young technology companies the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of several successful participants from the 2023 edition. The initiative, organised under the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant programme, has already helped a number of textile start-ups accelerate their transition from early-stage concepts to industrial partnerships, funding rounds and commercial deployment.