mistra future fashion was a research program focusing on circular economy aiming at a future positive fashion industry
the program held a unique system perspective operating crossdisciplinary in a consortium with over 60 partners
mistra future fashion 2011-2019
mistra future fashion was a research program focusing on circular economy aiming at a future positive fashion industry
the program held a unique system perspective operating crossdisciplinary in a consortium with over 60 partners
mistra future fashion 2011-2019
news
The impact of Swedish clothing consumption
80% of the climate impact of Swedish clothing consumption stems from the production phase. In other words, most of the impact happens before the garments even hit the racks. Nevertheless, both producers and consumers can help reduce the impact through behavioral change and technical production improvements.
Policies changing the playing field
Business models prolonging the lifetime of clothes make up a small part of present market, but targeted policies have the potential to change the playing field.
Shifting the focus from fiber to process
Researchers conclude that there is no specific sustainable textile fiber. Better production processes is the more pressing issue.
Understanding the Swedish market for pre-owned apparel
A new report investigates the Swedish market for pre-owned apparel and the possibilities of contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry.
The effect of dyeing and finishing in textile recycling
In a chemical recycling process, decoloring and removal of textile finishing would enhance the fibre dissolving capacity and stabilize the fibre regeneration process.
The UN Climate Convention requires a changed fashion industry
On December 10, 2018, the UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action was presented at the COP24 Katowice climate summit. The charter aims to gather all players in the fashion industry in signing 16 concrete points for a better and more sustainable future industry.
New research pushing the limits for ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ fashion
After two years of research Mistra Future Fashion is honored to present, in collaboration with Centre for Circular Design at University of the Arts London and Filippa K, an exhibition pushing the limits of ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ fashion. Started in 2016, the...
Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action to be launched by UNFCCC
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will launch the new ‘Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action’ at COP24.
Circular Design Speeds featured as heroes of bioeconomy
The industry embedded pilot ‘Circular Design Speed’ is featured as heroes of bioeconomy in a new video series ‘Made of Courage’ relaesed by The Nordic Council of Minister.
New test method for measuring microplastics shedding
A new article proposes a standard test method for measuring microplastics shedding during everyday wash of fabrics and garments.
the outlook report
mistra future fashion final program report
This is the outlook report, an overview and packaged recommendations stemming from 8 years of research aiming at a systemic change in fashion. The Mistra Future Fashion Research Program has been delivering substantial amounts of research in the written form of reports, conference contributions, academic publications, and doctoral theses, all available at our website for reading. Additionally, the team of researchers have contributed in, and arranged, conferences, meetings, workshops, exhibitions as well as participation in expert groups and panels in various initiatives. Furthermore, we have developed new materials, tools and prototypes, and implemented new concepts together with industry partners.
In order to make all of our research more visible and available we have packaged the main conclusions into recommendations on how one can contribute towards a systemic change in fashion. These are posted as recommendations cards from different angles: design for circularity; textile fiber impact; production impact; user; alternative business models; policy instruments; end of life; and joint effort. This is also the structure of this report.
research pushing the limits for ‘fast’ and ‘slow’ fashion
The Circular Design Speeds project is an outcome of Mistra Future Fashion’s ambition to drive systemic change in facilitating the collaboration between design researchers at University of the Arts London and industry insight from Filippa K. Drawing on results from additional disciplines, textile researchers Professor Rebecca Earley & Dr. Kate Goldsworthy of the Centre for Circular Design (UAL) lead the project in close collaboration with Elin Larsson, Sustainability Director at Filippa K.
future research agenda
This paper was produced by the programme board of Mistra Future Fashion (MFF). It is the result of eight years of monitoring this research programme which has taken a systemic approach to sustainable fashion, including consumption, production, design and recycling of clothing. It sets out research ideas that have been generated by the programme, and areas that require further exploration. It is necessarily incomplete and subjective, depending in part on the personal interests of board members.
Mistra Future Fashions board 2019
chairman: Nicholas Morley (Fareing)
Mathilda Tham (Linnaeus University), Elin Larsson (Elco), Helena Waker (Stockholm Fashion District), Felicia Reuterswärd (H&M), Michael Lind (Dedicated Institute), Anna-Karin Jönbrink (RISE), Philip Warkander (Lund University).
revolutionary process that recycles both cotton and polyester
This is a result from six years of research within Mistra Future Fashion and plays an important role in future global textile recycling systems. The project focuses on chemical recycling of polyester/cotton (polycotton) fiber blends with the objective to separate and generate relevant outputs for future industrial use; polyester monomers and a cotton pulp suitable for regeneration into cellulosic textile fibers (such as viscose fibers). The full name of the process is ”Blend Re:wind – a Swedish process for the recycling of polycotton blended textiles”.
the program
Our research focus is on Circular Economy, and how to enable today’s linear industry to transform into a circular sustainable industry. With a system perspective, we focus uniquely on the bigger picture and the interaction between the elements in the system. With an inter-disciplinary approach, the program attempts to understand and proceed on research on the most relevant areas within the system that needs to change.
The program is organized into four themes; Design, Supply, User and Recycling.
how do we design for a circular economy?
We explore and evaluate the environmental potential of the design and user potential of short-life vs. long-life garments to find the most suitable choices for the transformation into a textile circular economy for different types of garments in order to develop recommendations, guidelines and tools for how to design for resource circularity.
how do we stimulate a more circular supply chain?
We identify what necessary actions in textile and garment supply chains will enable circular economy and deliver guidelines for governance on how to transform to and sustain a circular textile supply chain.
how can users contribute to a more sustainable fashion?
We make recommendations on how to encourage sustainable consumer behavior and to increase user engagement in sustainable consumption. Specifically recommendations for achieving an increased degree of services for extended life of garments, reuse, and second hand consumption will be included.
how do we increase the textile recycling?
We develop knowledge on recycling methods and impact of post-consumer textiles to provide guidance on necessary steps to enable sustainable textile recycling.