The project is carried out thanks to the ERDF Regional Programme TUSCANY 2021–2027, ACTION 1.1.4 “Research and development for enterprises, including in partnership with research organisations.
CALL NO. 2: R&D projects for SMEs and Midcaps.
Title: New sustainable and circular fabrics, jewellery and accessories designed for the fashion world and aimed at fully aware consumers
Acronym: TEX4FUTURE
MASTER CUP: 27717.29122023.043000439
TEX4FUTURE is the project through which Ricciarini Tessile, together with partners Nicol Preziosi and L.A.A.P. and supported by the research organisation Next Technology Tecnotessile in Prato, is rethinking materials and processes for fashion with a focus on environmental impact and traceability. The goal is simple and ambitious at the same time: to reduce the impact of products across their entire life cycle, from the treatment of metal accessories to fabric finishes, through to the way garments are made, inspected and presented to the end customer with clear, verifiable information. The strategy combines process research with measurable data, so that every result can be concretely transferred into production.
On the materials side, the project has successfully launched two main lines of work. The first concerns metal accessories, where selected electroplating steps are being replaced with plasma technologies that enable durable, tightly controlled finishes. The second concerns low-microfibre-release fabrics, obtained through atmospheric plasma pre-activation and bio-based finishes, with testing of stability, hand feel and dyeing compatibility. These results feed into the development of a new prototype line of garments that integrates innovative accessories and fabrics through an eco-compatible bonding process, designed to be repeatable, scalable and consistent with the aesthetic standards of the sector.
In parallel, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is progressing, comparing the current situation with the innovative scenario and providing indicators useful for eco-design, responsible purchasing and transparent communication. Every laboratory and prototyping test is accompanied by data collection organised by batch, so that results are comparable and reusable. In addition, work is underway on OO5 dedicated to traceability and the digital product passport: the partnership has realigned requirements and timelines in order to select the most suitable provider, while a computer-vision-based quality control flow is already being developed, turning in-line results into certifiable events to be linked to the platform. Taken together, these elements lay the groundwork for an evidence-based product narrative, with benefits for brands, the supply chain and consumers.
At the date of this mid-term report, the project has completed selection and testing on representative fabrics, carried out initial validations on treated accessories and started garment prototyping, with process windows currently being defined. The LCA baseline is being consolidated and the traceability templates are ready to collect data on an ongoing basis. The value generated for the partners is already tangible: new expertise on lower-impact processes, reusable protocols and specifications, and indicators that genuinely measure what matters. In the coming months, efforts will focus on consolidating material performance, completing the validation of garments and processes, finalising the selection of the traceability platform and bringing to demonstration a complete product model that is sustainable, measurable and transparent along the entire value chain.
“The project is carried out thanks to the ERDF Regional Programme TUSCANY 2021–2027, ACTION 1.1.4 “Research and development for enterprises, including in partnership with research organisations.”
