A European initiative aims to foster circular and on-demand textile production.
Under the coordination of the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research Denkendorf (DITF), ten European project partners from six countries have formed ALADIN, which stands for Advanced LocAl and Digital Innovation Network for Circular Garments.
The ALADIN research project launched in May 2026 and is co-funded with five million euros under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program.
ALADIN’s goal is to establish viable business models for circular textile production over four years. In the long term, the project aims to establish a network of micro factories across Europe, create new jobs, and significantly increase the use of sustainable materials.
At the same time, ALADIN intends to reduce waste and strengthen regional value creation.
Partners come from Germany, Romania, Belgium, France, Czechia and Italy and encompass a wide range of expertise in design, embroidery, printing, digitalization, recycling, AI and micro-factory production. DITF said this diverse range of experiences enables a high-performance digital infrastructure for B2B and B2B2C relationships.
The initiative is based on four pillars: a digital platform for services provided by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regional cooperation to promote local production, technologies for recycling strategies and local and renewable raw materials.
The project will also spotlight innovations within the ecosystem such as automation, production technologies and digital services. ALADIN plans create a Digital Product Passport module and an AI-supported eco-design assistant to make more sustainable choices while designing products—solutions the group hopes can be transferred and adopted for broader use.
To validate their approach, ALADIN’s partners will focus on three use cases: a semi-automated T-shirt, a smart parka, and a circular, versatile blazer dress.
DITF said these products will use sustainable materials such as bio-based fibers and recycled textiles, which are processed in a way that makes them easier to recycle at the end of their life cycle. Production will take place locally in micro factories, and the products are custom-made according to customer specifications.
The EU-funded project aims to bring together industry, customers, policymakers, and academia to promote sustainable, circular textile production. In this way, DITF said ALADIN will also serve as a model for similar networks.
