AlpTextyles - Collaborative solutions for a heritage & consumer sensitive relocalization of sustainable, circular, and innovative Alpine textile value chains

Supported by the European Union through the Interreg Alpine Space Programme: €2,979,694, with ERDF grants totaling €1,970,770.

Textile value chains need an urgent change being one of the most polluting sectors with a massive potential for CO2 reduction. The Alps have a rich textile heritage with specific aesthetics & knowhow based on values of circularity&sensitivity to local resources (e.g. wool, linen, dyeing plants). Now that consumers are critical of products from globalised value chains & increasingly desire living sustainable lifestyles, such heritage could contribute to re-territorialise Alpine textile value chains, long disrupted by global sourcing & the offshoring of production, thus boosting natural local resources, projecting an attractive image capable of justifying the higher prices of Alpine products & fostering regional development & jobs creation. AlpTextyles will develop collaborative solutions accelerating the relocalisation of sustainable, circular Alpine textile value chains sensitive to natural&cultural resources and capturing consumers’ desire for postcarbon lifestyles, thus improving cross-border cooperation. These will include:

1. Orientation guides helping firms to innovate in a heritage-sensitive & circular manner
2. Toolkits helping cultural institutions safeguard textile heritage
3. Policy brief addressing the EU strategy for sustainable textiles & forthcoming geographical indications for heritage products, EUSALP action plans & regional authorities’ policies;
4. MOOC raising awareness & building capacity on Alpine textile heritage and its circular future.

AlpTextyles is innovative as it brings to the table of Alpine cooperation:

• a relevant so far neglected discussion about textile heritage in Alps;
• generates insights on consumers' desire to dress in a more CO2 neutral manner & perceived image/willingness to pay for Alpine products;
• builds a case for cross-border cooperation, normally hindered by policies fostering 100% local/national value chains;
• combines cultural & business expertise generating counter-intuitive cross-sectoral recommendations for agricultural, industrial & cultural policy.