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A collage showcasing various stages of material exploration, including fibers, weaving, and textural processes.
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  • Reimagining The Textile Industry: Embracing The Diversity Of Native Plant Fibers

Reimagining the Textile Industry: Embracing the Diversity of Native Plant Fibers

“Reimagining the Textile Industry: Embracing the Diversity of Native Plant Fibers,” addresses the unsustainable nature of the current textile industry emphasizing its environmental and socio-humanistic challenges. The global preference for certain fibers, like cotton, has led to their forced cultivation in non-native environments, therefore requiring the need for excessive irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide usages.

Furthermore, production often takes place in underdeveloped countries where regulations on human rights can lead to exploitative practices such as forced labor. This project advocates for a broader use of diverse fibers native to specific regions and promotes localizing their production processes nearer to the source of these raw materials.

The textile industry’s current narrow focus overlooks many potential plant sources. This initiative explores using fibers from blackberry stems, which are indigenous to Europe and well-suited to its climate. These plants thrive without the need for irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides, thus having minimal environmental impact. Adopting a ‘do it yourself’ (DIY) ethos, the project meticulously investigates the characteristics of blackberry stems, evaluating their textile potential, and determining the optimal conditions for their integration into the textile lifecycle.

Through the application of experimental processes and phases, this project dedicates significant attention to the positive ecological impact of natural and local fiber processing, ultimately proposing cultivation and processing methods which bolster environmental integrity and responsibility.


Europe is a leading exporter of blackberries, as they are native to the region. However, the process of regular pruning, which is necessary for fruit production, generates substantial agricultural waste in the form of discarded stems. This presents an opportunity to source these unused raw materials directly from European growers, and potentialize central textile production in the region. Such localization not only fosters a more empathetic relationship with textile workers but also deepens consumers’ connections to the gar- ments produced within this process.
This proximity throughout the supply chain—from raw material acquisition to garment production and sale—adds another unique layer to the garment from the view of both consumers and manufacturers, linking farmers, manufacturers, and consumers to their regional heritage.


This project is far more than a mere substitution of materials—it cultivates a renaissance in textile production which respects and harmonizes with the environment rather than exploiting it for human commodities.
By fostering a local supply chain, the project not only maintains ecological balance but also enables a sustainable cultural practice within textile manufacturing. While the paper focuses on a particular example of blackberry fiber, extensively cultivated in Portugal, it serves as a model that can be replicated globally with other native fibers, potentially leading to a more integrated and responsible textile industry.
  • A graphical representation titled 'The Material Exploration Overview', showing a looped pathway with various stations such as Ideation, Harvesting, and Delivery marked along the path.
  • Illustrative diagram of 'The Supply Chain' showing various stages and components in a streamlined design on a light pink background.
  • A website interface showing a customizable textile design with various color options and order placement functionalities.
  • Reimagining the Textile Industry: Embracing the Diversity of Native Plant Fibers
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