Textile Integration

In the fall of 2016, the Red Cross initiated the project Textile Integration where new immigrants with textile professional experience together with established Swedish designers have produced textile creations. The project has generated great interest and Vandalorum is now proud to present the creations produced as well as new collaborations with the leading furniture manufacturers Bruno Mathsson International in Värnamo and Stolab in Smålandsstenar.

“It is the meeting of our textile traditions that makes the exhibition unique. Here we meet beautiful patterns inspired by mosques and classic Scandinavian furniture design,” says Matilda Maroti, designer and project manager.

The Red Cross in Borås and Jönköping runs the project whose aim is to integrate new immigrants, asylum seekers and established Swedes, and give them the opportunity to share each other's professional experiences and networks in the textile industry. The project participants come from seven different countries and have 5 to 30 years of experience in the fashion industry or textile manufacturing.

Participants will also have the chance to learn textile professional terminology in Swedish. The project has already led to employers in the industry consulting and requesting staff with this type of textile expertise.”, says Matilda Maroti.

‍Textile Integration is also an environmental project. In 2014, the inflow of clothing and textiles was 128.000 tons in Sweden, which is 13.1 kg per person. Of these, about 8 kg are thrown into the garbage. Through collaborations with textile companies around Sweden, Textile Integration use wastefabrics and mis-produced goods and create new metre goods.

^{Photo: John Nelander}