Reimagine Textile, the business innovation programme for the textile industry sponsored by Mataró Town Council, TecnoCampus and the Eurecat technology centre, is providing entrepreneurs, start-ups and businesses in the textile industry with new incubation facilities and a Textile Manufacturing and Prototyping Laboratory (FabLAB) for generating new enterprises, testing new business models and prototyping innovative products.

These new facilities are an innovation ecosystem delivering the technological environment, knowledge, contacts and funding options needed to unlock new opportunities for young businesses and also established firms which are keen on innovation and sustainability.

The Reimagine Textile incubator provides six growth levers: plug & play facilities equipped with the technologies young companies in the sector need; specialised mentoring; training in key success factors for the industry in the 21st century such as its digital and green transformation; networking and connections in the textile innovation ecosystem at home and abroad; coverage in relevant trade media and access to funding opportunities to power their growth.

The experimentation and prototyping Reimagine Textile FabLAB is on the ground floor of the Eurecat Mataró site connected to the Reimagine Textile incubator, the University and the Eurecat technology centre. This combination means the venue is an outstanding chance for its users to get the best expert technological advice and opportunities to pursue business ideas.

The FabLAB provides its users with a fully equipped cutting and sewing area, digital fabrication tools such as sublimation, laser cutting, embroidery and 3D printing, and a projection room which can host twelve people. In addition to professional equipment and expert staff, the FabLAB also furnishes the options of viewing catalogues of innovative and sustainable materials and getting in touch with trusted suppliers backed by key partners such as COATS.

The service is fully funded by the PECT project until December 2021. Anyone interested in finding out more about the facility and the kind of services available can ask for a briefing session via the booking website https://reimaginetextile.simplybook.it/v2/#book.

The Reimagine Textile incubator currently hosts 15 start-ups in its high-performance programme and 11 in its incubation programme: Zer Era, Heggy Bags, The Running Republic, Evix, Mimosa, Julia G. Escribà, Leser Yoga, Melic, Virtual Showroom, Laxa Ibèrca, Neon, Redpanty, Brauvoir, Pro-Stetic, Owl, infinit Denim, Infinite Athletic, Newex, Hemp & Love, Mambo Jungle, Nia Organics, Uma Intimates, Mushi, Mumu Knit, New Elephant and Helmet Workwear.

“Being a member of Reimagine Textile allows us to grow and keep moving forward”

Paolo Quagliotti, founder and CEO of The Running Republic

“Reimagine Textile is helping us to be part of the change in fashion”

Ane Castro and Núria Costa, founding partners of Zer Era

“Reimagine Textile helped us to go to several leading entrepreneurship fairs and they have also put us in touch with various partners to strike up collaborations and source funding”

Marc Millet, Nil Oleaga and Lucas Llobet, founding partners of Evix Safety

Reimagine Textile is the business innovation programme for the textile industry sponsored by Mataró Town Council, TecnoCampus and the Eurecat technology centre under the Mataró Maresme Territorial Competitiveness and Specialisation Project (PECT in its acronym in Catalan).

The PECT is backed by Calella Town Council and co-financing from the Catalonia ERDF Operational Programme 2014-2020 and Barcelona Provincial Council. It is supported by el Maresme County Council, the Association of Knitwear Entrepreneurs of Mataró and Region (ASEGEMA) and the town councils of Arenys de Mar, Argentona, Cabrera de Mar, Caldes d’Estrac, Canet de Mar, Dosrius, Malgrat de Mar, Premià de Dalt, Premià de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Sant Vicenç de Montalt, Santa Susanna, Teià, Vilassar de Mar and Vilassar de Dalt.

Led by the TecnoCampus foundation and the Eurecat technology centre, Reimagine Textile is a strategic commitment in place since 2018 with the goal of growing and reinventing the Catalan textile industry through innovation, technology and sustainability. It is a shared challenge with the ambition of becoming a leader not only in Catalonia but also across Europe and worldwide based in Mataró, a historic textile industry icon.