Sustainable & Functional Textiles are everywhere and are becoming increasingly durable, smarter and more functional. The textile industry is able to innovate thanks to new technologies, smart materials and durable processes.
Society faces complex issues. Smart and functional materials can help address these issues. The digitisation of production networks is making it possible to rapidly introduce innovations on the market. The research group Sustainable & Functional Textiles (SFT) develops innovative concepts and products by way of practice-oriented research in collaboration with companies, researchers and students.
The future of fashion and textiles is functional and sustainable!
The most important research areas of the SFT research group are
Sustainable textile
In the research program Sustainable Textiles, the opportunities and challenges for a circular textile industry are investigated. For example, collecting of used textile “waste”, sorting, fiber production, but also spinning and weaving of new products. The focus of the research is both on the design process (design for reuse) and on textile recycling with innovative technologies based on mechanical and chemical processes. SaXcell® (Saxion and cellulose) is an example of an innovative chemical recycling process, developed by the research group SFT and now an independent company. In addition, local production of textiles, biomaterials and a transparent value chain (traceability) are important research areas in this line of research.
Projects
Functional textiles
Functional textiles have been around for centuries: dye-stuff and pigments are well-known functionalities that provide color and patterns, but also products such as (bees)wax to make fabrics waterproof or to print in “batik”style. Nowadays, all kinds of coatings, films, sprays, for instance to improve anti-fouling or water repellency to textiles, and post-treatments such as plasma, digital and conductive patterns can be printed with high resolution. The latter make it possible to integrate sensors, actuators and other “electronics” (such as flexible solar cells) into the textile. Applications for this can be found in medical, sports & fitness, but also textile architecture.
Projects
Know more?
Today textile is much more than just producing fabrics. You will discover this for yourself in our unique laboratory. For example, we test how quickly a fabric starts to pill. And we investigate the materials from which a fabric is made.
Collaboration with research group Sustainable & Functional Textiles
Thanks to multidisciplinary collaboration between business, research groups and education, innovative concepts and products are being developed. Collaboration takes place at the regional, national and international level.
The research group is connected to the following programmes:
Curious about possible internships and graduation assignments? Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
- Assignment Developing a Robust Ultrasonic Weld Seam for a Soft Robotic Heart
- Assignment - Heat regulating hot water bottle for newborns
- Internship - Masque
- The ultimate recycled knitting yarn student assignment
- Assignment Smart Pillow
- Effect of washing on recycled fibers
- Student Assignment - Circular and Functional Mattress
- Internship/Graduation assignment - Cotton in Common
- Internship/Graduation assignment - WorkAware
- Assignment Developing a smart running garment
News from this research group
Research group
Jan Mahy
Lector Sustainable & Functional Textiles
Pramod Agrawal
Researcher
Eliza Bottenberg
Reseacher
Laura Erkens
Researcher
Theresia Grevinga
Researcher
Richard Groeneveld
Researcher
Sven Kamphuis
Researcher
Carlos Kuhlmann
Researcher
Jens Oelerich
Lector Sustainable & Functional Textiles
Véronique de Vries - Horvath
Project Support
Hellen van Rees
Researcher
Maud Kuppen
Researcher
Melissa van Schaik
Researcher
Sarah Pichon
Researcher
Robin Temmink
Researcher
Anke ten Berge
Researcher
Visiting adress
Saxion, Sustainable & Functional Textiles
Van Galenstraat 19
7511 JL Enschede
Postal adres
Saxion
Academie ACT / Sustainable & Functional Textiles
PO Box 70000
7500 KB Enschede