Winter School connects disciplines and stimulates sustainable textile innovation
5 February 2025
From January 27 to 31, the second edition of the NewTexEco 3D Robot Knitting Winter School took place at the 3D Knit Robot Lab at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (HvA). This innovative initiative offered textile professionals and students a unique opportunity to explore and apply advanced knitting technology. Participants worked with the Shima Seiki WholeGarment 3D knitting machine, with innovation and collaboration at the heart of the program. The Winter School not only provided technical skills but also contributed to the development of sustainable applications in the fashion and textile industry.
Diverse backgrounds, collective innovation
Participants from a wide range of backgrounds took part in the program, creating a fertile cross-pollination of knowledge and skills. Leslie Eisinger, lecturer-researcher at the Fashion Research & Technology research group, emphasized the power of this diversity:
"A group of six participants with completely different backgrounds spent a week learning to knit on the advanced knitting machine. Their assignment was to collaboratively create a sweater that reflects their identity as a community. One team focused on the technical aspects of knitting, while the other experimented with texture and design. This resulted in two completely different sweaters, highlighting the versatility and potential of this technology."
Practical application of advanced technology
The program offered participants an intensive introduction to both the software and hardware of the knitting machines. On Monday, they learned the basic principles of the software and created a mini sweater. Tuesday and Wednesday focused on programming and creating patterns, after which the participants developed their own sweaters on Thursday. The week concluded on Friday with a presentation at AMFI, where the results were shared.
Learning experiences and future outlook
Participants emphasized the added value of the Winter School for their professional and academic development. Nina Schilthuis, a Fashion and Textile Technology student at Saxion, discovered that despite her prior knitting experience, she still had much to learn about digital knitting techniques and pattern manipulation. Erika Butcaru, a Fashion & Design student at AMFI, saw the course as an opportunity to deepen her knowledge of digital textile design. Esra Sariyürek, a weaver at Enschede Textielstad, used the Winter School to explore how knitting technology could be integrated into her work and future collaborations within the NewTexEco consortium.
Impact on the future of textile production
The NewTexEco 3D Robot Knitting Winter School goes beyond being a one-time educational experience. By bringing together different disciplines and offering hands-on experience with advanced textile technology, the program stimulates innovation within the sector. The knowledge gained contributes to more sustainable and technologically advanced textile production and opens doors to future collaborations and developments.
Winter School
With this second successful edition, the Winter School confirms its role as a springboard for the next generation of textile designers and technologists. The combination of technology, sustainability, and interdisciplinary collaboration illustrates how textile production can evolve in the future and how innovation in knitting technology will play a key role in the fashion and textile industry.