N ° 3 5  A U G U S T  2 0 2 4

STUDY

VETRINE

The study phase.

The VETRINE study takes stock of sustainability practices and issues in different Consortium countries. It serves as a basis for developing the MOOC which will be offered to training institutions, universities and companies seeking to develop a more sustainable textile & clothing sector. The study contains a synthesis of insights from focus groups (with more than 500 participants), a raw materials report created by KAUNO Technologijos Universitetas (Lithuania), an analysis of Vocational Education and Training (VET) educational protocols carried out by partners AEG (Spain), DIMITAR TALEV (Bulgaria), CITEVE (Portugal) and EUROTRAINING (Greece), and an analysis of national T&C markets and prospects for the application of sustainability concepts which is the result of research carried out by ATP (Portugal), Cedecs-TCBL (France), CHIMAR (Greece) , CENTEXBEL (Belgium), PIRINTEX (Bulgaria), TEXFOR (Spain).

Download the VETRINE study

A three-layer fabric that reduces the feeling of heat in the city by 9°C

This fabric reflects heat back from streets and buildings, which have a different refraction wavelength than the sun. From the outside to the inside: the first layer is a PMP (polymethylpenthene) plastic woven with filaments 1/100 the thickness of the hair; the second is a layer of silver nanowires; the layer in contact with the skin is a conventional cotton or wool fabric. READ

We're inventing Lightspray, the sprayable shoe

The articulated arm of a robot rotates the shape of a shoe in front of a jet which sprays a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) to make the upper part of the shoe and weld it to the sole. A second robot then colors this spray, and the shoe is made in 3 minutes (6 minutes for a pair). According to Lightspray, this technology saves 75% of the carbon footprint (from the upper part) and makes it possible to develop production close to their places of purchase. READ

Walmart x American Giant (launched in 2011) develop the $12.98 T-shirt made in the USA

The cotton fibers used (light and raw) come from a network of cotton producers in the South-West of the US and the manufacturing is made in textile factories in three states (the Carolinas and California). At this price, the T-Shirt is 4 times more expensive than the entry-level at around $3, but it allows you to wear more durable clothing, while bringing American production back to life. READ

Cotton prices are at their lowest level in 4 years

This drop, closely linked to favorable weather conditions and the drop in oil prices, could have a significant impact on the increase in cotton-based textile production. READ

End of the removal of customs duties for items under €150 imported into Europe (two billion packages in 2023), targeting in particular sales via Temu, Shein and Alibaba. READ

Resale circuits as a means of maintaining overproduction in fast and ultra-fast fashion?

A hypothesis which is verified in the resale figures on Vinted for Zara (61.8 million items of clothing), H&M (59.7 million), Shein (21.8 million), Primark (21 million) or Mango (10.2 million). READ

Combining solvents and waves to recycle multifiber textiles, particularly from polyester?

Promising research initiated by the University of Delaware. READ and ALSO