Natural Fibre Archive
The Natural Fibre Archive of the European Textile Academy is being built in collaboration with plant experts from growing regions around the world, yarn and fabric manufacturers and research institutions. The collection includes all natural fibres that come from natural sources such as plants, animals or minerals and can be used directly without further chemical processing.
Focus and objectives
Since the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro at the latest, the loss of biodiversity has been recognised alongside climate change as one of the core problems of global change. By adopting the Convention on Biological Diversity, the international community accepted the conservation and sustainable use of our biological resources as a key challenge for the 21st century. Meeting global challenges requires international cooperation as well as bringing together all available forces at national level in a coordinated nature conservation strategy.
With its focus on natural fibres, the European Textile Academy is aimed especially at fashion and textile manufacturers, architects, interior designers and designers. The archive offers insights into the many ways natural fibres can be used and processed, the materials made from them, and their applications, functions and technical properties. Design professionals, students and anyone interested will find a wealth of information on traditional and innovative new fibres. The extensive collection of fibres, textiles and other materials can be experienced, compared and explored with all the senses.
Replacing synthetic fibres with natural ones, wherever possible and sensible, makes careful and forward-looking agriculture possible. Thanks to their special properties, their unique appeal and their ecological and social sustainability, natural fibres are faithful companions on the way to an environmentally aware and responsible future.
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