The BIO TEN Design Guidelines: Inspiring biobased, local, durable and circular innovation in fashion textiles

Using design to change the way we make, use and reuse resources, materials, products, and services, has been widely recognised as an important element in creating a lower-impact clothing industry. A broad range of designers and sectors are involved in the various processes of decision-making that producing textiles and clothing entails. The research presented in this paper is concerned with how we might train professional designers working in SME’s – small to medium scale enterprises - across Europe to make durable, long-life clothing that will be appropriate and fit for use within the emerging circular bioeconomy. This paper presents work developed as part of the design work package of the HEREWEAR project. The project is an EU H2020 FNR-2020 funded initiative (Food and Natural Resources), bringing together 15 different partners from 13 countries to explore systemic innovation for circular, biobased, local textiles and fashion. The HEREWEAR consortium is developing new fibres from agricultural waste -agriwaste - and pioneering (digitised) production, use and business models for local contexts. The design researchers in the project are tasked with the development of guidelines for biobased, circular, and local fashion textile design. This paper introduces the guidelines and discusses their value as a tool for professional training of design stakeholders, in the transition to a sustainable and circular fashion industry.