Research

Branded clothing retail generated €331.8 billion in economic activity and supported 4.5 million jobs across the EU27 in 2023, representing around 2% of both GDP and employment. Commissioned by the European Branded Clothing Association, the Oxford Economics study highlights the sector’s extensive impact through local supply chains, retail operations, and global trade engagement.

Researchers have unveiled a fully automated system capable of disassembling used clothing every ten seconds using artificial intelligence and laser technology. The system identifies and removes non-recyclable elements to enable high-quality textile recycling. This breakthrough offers a scalable solution to fashion waste and supports circular economy goals.

A new European study by the Solstice project has exposed glaring inefficiencies in the continent’s textile sector. Analysing Berlin, Grenoble, Prato, and Catalonia, researchers found critical disparities in services, material flows, and consumer behaviour. The findings call for coordinated territorial approaches to shift the industry towards sustainable circular practices.

A new study has revealed that certain agricultural residues can be transformed into textile-grade cellulose, offering a cleaner, more sustainable alternative to cotton and virgin wood. By using soda pulping, these materials can be processed efficiently with fewer chemicals, potentially easing environmental pressures while unlocking scalable sources for eco-friendly viscose and lyocell fibre production.

Getting the right shade of dye is often difficult for fabric manufacturers, but research from the Wilson College of Textiles is using machine learning to tackle the mismatch of shades which could actually help reduce textile manufacturing waste by more accurately mapping how colours will change during the dyeing process.

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a type of fabric, weaving in glass microfibres, that can work as smart sensors that react to touch, pressure and movement.

Smart fabrics are an emerging trend and a new 3D ink printing method that performs well even after repeated washings and abrasion tests could be the future of comfortable smart wearables, says a research from the Washington State University (WSU).

Is virtual fashion a sustainable fix or just another short-lived trend? Could virtual-only clothing be a cleaner opportunity for the fashion industry? A new study from the University of Portsmouth delves into the growing phenomenon of e-fashion — digital garments worn in virtual environments — and found these intangible items could help bridge the gap between fast fashion and environmental sustainability.

The care label is evolving to meet the changing expectations of Europeans as a key element in guiding consumers on how to care for their clothes, according to the GINETEX Barometer. Between the need for simplification, the addition of new symbols or the integration of digital tools, there are several potential levers to improve its effectiveness and legibility.

Research at Canada’s Laurentian University establishes a foundation for fully automated robotic knitting systems, enabling customisable, flexible production processes that integrate perception, planning, and actuation, thereby advancing textile manufacturing through intelligent robotic automation.