On 10 and 11 September 2025, the 5th edition of Circular Textile Days will take place, under the theme “Transforming Mindsets: Embracing Circular Business Models in Textiles”. Circular Textile Days is a business event that provides an excellent opportunity to meet new partners in the sustainable textile market, as well as find and debate innovative circular textile solutions. It focuses on the critical mindset shifts required to make circularity the standard.
What Does This Mean?
The textile industry traditionally operates in a linear model: raw materials are used to make products that are then disposed of. Circularity challenges this approach, focusing on reusing resources, extending the lifespan of textiles, and ensuring waste is minimized or recycled.
The last edition drew nearly 1,300 visitors from 26 nations, establishing the groundwork for meaningful change. In preparation for the upcoming event, Circular Textile Days did extensive research in partnership with students from Saxion University of Applied Sciences and the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. They looked at the current situation of the textile business and determined what was genuinely required to create meaningful improvements.
As a result, the Manifesto for Circular Textiles was developed, highlighting five critical targets to propel the sector ahead.
These include:
- Fostering collaboration across the value chain: Manufacturers, brands, policymakers, and recyclers need to work together. Collaboration ensures that all stages of production and consumption align with circular principles.
- Designing for longevity and recyclability: Products should be made to last longer and be easier to recycle at the end of their life.
- Advancing transparency and traceability: The origin of materials and production processes should be fully visible. Transparency builds trust and helps consumers and businesses understand the impact of their choices.
- Implementing scalable circular business models: Businesses should adopt models that work on a large scale, such as leasing clothing, repair services, or resale platforms, instead of relying solely on selling new items.
- Addressing policy barriers to accelerate sustainable practices: Governments need to create policies that encourage sustainable practices, such as tax incentives for recycling or penalties for wasteful practices.
The event featured presentations and discussions by prominent organizations like Patagonia, IKEA, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. These well-known names attracted large, engaged audiences, underscoring the event’s appeal and importance. Circular Textile Days creates a transforming atmosphere in addition to being interesting. Attendees repeatedly highlight that the event goes beyond networking, providing a forum for actual collaboration and meaningful insights. It is a location where businesses can connect, rethink their plans, and learn the tools they need to make circularity a reality.
Circular Textile Days will continue to build on its heritage in 2025. The fifth edition anticipates to be another breakthrough moment for the textile sector. Early bird registration will begin in January 2025.
