New sustainability funding for Scottish textile designers
Zero Waste Scotland (ZWS) has launched a new fund to help Scottish textile and apparel designers reduce waste and produce longer-wearing designs.
The Circular Economy Textile and Apparel Fund (CETAF), first announced in November, aims to help designers develop ‘new innovative methods’ that will help keep materials in a ‘high-value state’ for as long as possible.
Specifically, the CETAF aims to:
- support the development of new textile design and construction techniques;
- encourage the exploration of sustainable fibres and materials; and
- encourage the use of new business models, such as leasing or hiring out products and services.
The fund is the first of its kind in Scotland, and is open to textile and apparel designers with more than two years of industry experience across performance, technical textiles and clothing, fashion and couture.
Applicants will be able to apply for up to £5,000 each, and successful bidders will also receive mentoring from ‘an industry expert’.
Industry developments
ZWS has highlighted a number of UK textile companies that are already utilizing new materials, production techniques, and circular economy strategies in their products.
For example, Camira Textiles recently developed a new fabric comprised entirely of recycled materials, 25 per cent of which were derived directly from the company’s own waste streams, and fashion company Elvis and Kresse (featured in Resource 76) has helped to divert 200 tonnes of decommissioned firehoses from landfill since 2005 by using them to produce accessories.
Collaborative consumption is also promoted, with clothing rental company Rentez-vous being promoted as sustainable business strategy.
ZWS hopes that the CETAF will encourage developments of this kind within the Scottish textile industry and therefore ‘demonstrate how Scotland’s successful textiles and apparel sector can lead the way in circular economy design and service innovation’.
“A great opportunity”
Speaking of the fund, Iain Gulland, Chief Executive of Zero Waste Scotland commented: “We know from recent research that there are currently no truly circular textile products or services in Scotland, but that the characteristics of our country’s textile industry – heritage, provenance, durability, globally recognised quality manufacturing and production make it well placed to develop new ideas.
“This is therefore a great opportunity for designers to play a leading role in identifying new innovative products and services for Scotland which could demonstrate how the sector can become truly circular in the future.
“The Scottish textiles industry has a great heritage and this fund will encourage ideas to ensure the sector grows sustainably.”
Applications
CETAF will open to applications until 30 January 2015, and funds will be distributed on a competitive basis.
A live question and answer session will be held on ZWS’ Twitter account (@ZeroWasteScot) at 2pm tomorrow (15 January) to answer queries from those wishing to apply to the fund.
The Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has also been focusing on the sustainability of clothing recently, and launched its Extending the Life of Clothes Design Awards (ELC Awards), which seeks ‘innovative solutions’ to making clothes ‘wearable for longer’ in October last year.
Find out more about the Circular Economy Textile and Apparel Fund and how to apply.
