European Textile Academy
The platform for knowledge transfer across disciplines: independent, expert, international.
Award ceremony 2026
The European Textile & Craft Awards of the European Textile Academy set international standards in honouring special achievements in contemporary and traditional crafts and the arts, and their connection to the world of design. The distinguished international jury of renowned experts only honours projects and products that are pioneering in textiles, art and craft, and highlights positive developments in circular production. The award not only makes an achievement visible, it also gives the winners access to a valuable network, international reach and new market opportunities.
A trophy by Lanificio Bottoli
In 2024, the trophy presented to the winners of the European Textile & Craft Award featured a fabric sample taken from Christo’s posthumous work in Paris: the famous wrapping of the Arc de Triomphe.
For the 2025 edition, in honour of the International Year of Glaciers, a recycled and recyclable fleece was chosen as the symbolic fabric. Lenzing had developed this innovative material to protect snow-covered mountain landscapes from the devastating effects of global warming.
Finally, the 2026 edition of the ETA Award focused on a fabric made in Italy and dyed with coffee grounds. It was developed and produced by Lanificio Bottoli, a long-established, vertically integrated textile mill in Vittorio Veneto.
“We are especially proud that the award’s organising committee chose a Lanificio Bottoli fabric as the symbol of the 2026 edition,” said the company’s president, Roberto Bottoli. “For many years we have been committed to developing fabrics that combine the highest quality, style and comfort with the search for sustainable solutions. The fabric chosen for the award also has a very special story. It is a wool fabric made without synthetic chemical additives. Its shades are created by dipping the fibres in a coffee bath, and coffee is by definition a natural and biodegradable product.”
ETA Award 2026
One of the most eagerly awaited moments of the festival is the traditional presentation of the European Textile & Craft Award, held this year under the motto “When authenticity becomes style”. Numerous projects from all over the world were submitted, and the international jury faced the demanding task of choosing, from a wide variety of entries, those that stand out for originality and quality in fashion, craft, industry, art and research.
These are the winners of the 2026 edition:
The Gold Award in the Textile Craft category went to Inés Rodríguez (Spain), who makes textiles from merino wool and silk, and to Jessica Tartaglia. Since 2018, she has been producing high-quality textiles from natural fibres in her studio, Atelier Jesa, in the historic centre of Bisaccia in the Campanian hinterland.
Carlos Benny Girón Levano was named Newcomer of the Year in the Sustainable Fashion Craft category. The award recognises the development of collections with a particular focus on sustainability.
The Gold Award in the Textile Art category went to Tanja Major (Germany) for her ability to obtain paper fibres from mycelium, which she uses to make decorative objects and home accessories. Her sources of inspiration include the ancient Japanese Was(h)i technique.
The Bolzano company Alber, a well-known brand specialising in hosiery and underwear, received the award in the Sustainable Fashion Industry category. The award recognised in particular its in-house brand Filifolli, whose “Lake Como” collection draws on the heritage of the silk industry around Como and the embroidery tradition of the Varese area. It combines the distinctive feel of the fabrics with understated, subtle elegance. According to the jury, Alber’s Capsule Collection concept reflects a thoughtful approach to timeless design and high-quality craftsmanship. All pieces are made entirely in Italy.
Finally, in the Sustainable Textile Industry category, the award went to Monika and Heinz-Jürgen Gerdes. The jury honoured their commitment to reviving the wool tradition of northern Germany by processing Coastland wool.
ReSULT wins with 3D fabric for vertical gardens
Finally, the jury presented the Gold Award in the category “Textile Architecture – Research & Innovation” to the ReSULT research group at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. With fabricGREEN, the team has developed a modular system for green façades made from three-dimensional textiles. The structure is designed to encourage plants to grow in the spaces within the fabric. The project opens up new perspectives for climate-resilient architecture. The patented system serves as a substrate in which roots can settle and grow, while also allowing an efficient water supply.
The system consists of lightweight, prefabricated and pre-planted modules that can easily be mounted on the vertical structures of buildings. The Frankfurt researchers’ project is a fine example of how a textile structure can take on innovative technical functions. In this case, the textile technology helps to improve the microclimate in cities.
Overview
Stay up to date with our current initiatives, events and projects. Discover how we are shaping the future of textile education, research and innovation.
Our mission
The Academy brings together members, interested individuals, associations, public bodies, businesses, institutions, museums and universities to promote fashion and textile crafts, manufacturing, and those working in cultural history and science.
We see ourselves as a link between tradition and innovation. Our aim is to preserve Europe’s textile heritage while opening up new paths for the future.
Goals and values
Our goal is to protect and study the long tradition of the European textile industry as part of our cultural heritage, and to offer practical education and training that also supports sustainable economic development. The Academy champions creative and innovative potential and works to restore the value of quality and a sense of aesthetics. It contributes research and publications on textile history and textile crafts, based on sound historical, ethnographic and archaeological research. It evaluates known sources, uncovers new ones and takes measures to preserve art and cultural heritage.
In this context, it organises events, conferences, fashion shows and presentations, competitions and exhibitions.
The Academy offers advice and prepares quality and authenticity reports in the textile field for individuals, associations, museums, institutions and public authorities. This includes the restoration of historical textiles and museum collections, their professional conservation and how they are displayed. It also keeps and manages assets, objects and historical sources received as donations from private or public sources.
Events
The Academy regularly organises and supports exhibitions, conferences, competitions and specialist events with an international reach.
Crafts for the Senses 2026
Textilefestival 2027
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Education and training
The Academy organises practical workshops, seminars and conferences where you can deepen your knowledge, make new contacts and experience the latest developments in textile design.
Paper cutting with Anna Wielander-Platzgummer (example)
Knowing and recognising a textile: the rug (example)
Participants
Experiences and impressions from our programmes