The textile and fashion sector is at a turning point that faces important challenges, such as the digital transition and sustainability. The sector is especially affected by the energy situation, while it still has to resolve how to incorporate new technologies so that companies can be more competitive.
To deal with all these issues, the Mataró TecnoCampus together with the Eurecat Technology Center and the Mataró City Council, in the context of their joint strategy Reimagine Textile, have organized the innovation day "Digital and sustainable transition of the textile value chain and fashion in Catalonia", which will take place on October 19. Aimed at the Catalan textile and fashion value chain, this event will address issues such as the meaning and scope of the digital and sustainable transition challenge and the opportunities to facilitate the process of this transition. Real cases of Catalan companies that encourage decision-making will be presented, and new technologies that facilitate digitization and sustainable transition processes will be presented.
This conference is part of the awarding of the Reimagine Textile awards to the most innovative initiatives of start-ups in the textile sector and the textile-fashion value chain. "We didn't want to limit ourselves to awarding the prizes but to offer content of interest to a sector that is at a turning point," explains Emma Feriche, head of strategic projects at TecnoCampus and leader of Reimagine Textile.
The day will feature a conference by Emili Rousaud, CEO of Factor Energía, on "The energy challenge, key to digital and sustainable transition for the textile value chain in Catalonia". In addition, a Round Table will be organized on "Textiles and Fashion in constant transformation, learn about innovative experiences in sustainability and digitization in the textile and fashion value chain". Different companies “That are already working on the ecological transition and digital transformation” will participate in this round table.
The event is sponsored by companies in the textile value chain, specifically the fashion firm Bobo Choses as SYLVER sponsor, the technical fabric manufacturer SportWear Fabrics and the fashion brand Colibrí as BRONZE sponsors. Likewise, EPSON sponsors a company with solutions for the digitization of the textile sector as a BRONZE sponsor.
According to Feriche, this meeting also wants to serve so that the textile and fashion sector launches "a unanimous message, addressed to politicians and decision-makers, on the importance of facing the energy challenge from public-public alliances." private”. The sector "is more than willing to take on this challenge, but an alliance is needed to catalyze this entire process," he adds.
The textile sector is in a moment of change and transformation. The economic context has caused a return to the production of Km.0. "The industry is returning to regions that have the opportunity to take advantage of this situation to regain competitiveness," says Feriche. But for it to be effective "a commitment from the administrations is needed", for example in aid to invest in technology.
In relation to this topic, the TecnoCampus has promoted the platform www.cooperatextil.com that brings together all the productive supply that exists in the sector in Catalonia, thus facilitating contact between supply and demand for textile production. According to Feriche, it is a very dynamic platform and it is facilitating the return of km0 production.
