SUSTEX is one of the new projects of the FTILAB+ research center.
The FTILab+ is a research center of HOGENT that wants to empower the processing and manufacturing industries to transform into circular, bio-based and digitized businesses by means of connecting researchers, industry, students, designers, policy makers, end-users and academics.
Material Archive
Resource Library
We aim to collect physical samples of commercially available sustainable textile materials i.e. fibers, yarns and fabrics and accessories such as:
- Man-made fibers of natural, renewable origin e.g. Tencel, soybean fiber, ..
- Bio-synthetics: yarns and fabrics based on bio-based polymers e.g. bio-PET, bio-PA, …
- Yarns and fabrics of various origin from mechanically recycled industrial and post-consumer waste
- Synthetic yarns and fabrics from chemical recycled pre-consumer/ post-consumer synthetic polymers
- Natural fibers/yarns/ fabrics of EU-origin e.g. hemp, flax, nettles…
- Sewing threads, trims, etc. required to build up a full-sustainable fashion product.
If available, we will also gather additional information such as :
technical specifications,
availability,
their benefits,
recyclability
certificates of sustainability.
For Students
The physical samples and the technical datasheets provided will be kept in an on-line database and physical catalogue of sustainable textile materials to be used by the students, their project promotors and researchers of HOGENT.
The inventory wants to facilitate the trajectory of HOGENT students within their Bachelor programme, during which they are asked to apply “design for recycling” principles, create, develop and test garments or other textile products using selected sustainable materials.
Moreover, the students will assess prototypes’ functionality, comfort, aesthetics, acceptability and economics. At the end of the student projects, the prototypes are showcased during HOGENT and FTILab+ events.
And Business
We would like to establish a long-term collaboration between HOGENT and the manufacturers contributing to this project.
Further consultancy, research, payed testing or promotion by the manufacturer of its products to the students and researchers of FTILab+ can be arranged upon request after mutual agreement between the interested parties.
Design for recycling
Sell it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Style it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Share it.
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
A biobased economy with a focus on materials
In Flanders, an enormous amount of agricultural waste (leaves, rhizomes and stems) is produced every year after harvesting, most of which is not valorised or is valorised at a low level. In the transition to a bio-based circular economy, high-quality valorisation of organic by-products plays an important role. Raw materials are becoming increasingly scarce and expensive and the global demand for eco-materials in industry is rising. Upcycling of natural fibres from agricultural waste can offer a solution.
The RestMatch 2 project wants to investigate the potential of natural fibres from plant stem cuttings as raw material for the production of bio-based materials. The chemical composition and qualitative properties of the fibres will be determined and compared with those of commonly used natural fibres such as cotton and flax. This project will build knowledge about alternative natural fibres from waste streams.
RestMatch 2 is a research project of research center AgroFoodNature, working at the interface of agri- and horticulture, food and nature.