Cultivating Style Through Sustainable Practices

Inspiring Sustainable Change Together

On May 9, 2025, Asociația REGINNOVA NE successfully hosted the event “Cultivating Style Through Sustainable Practices,” welcoming 19 passionate participants, including entrepreneurs, designers, and innovators in fashion manufacturing, leather, and natural textile dyeing.

Connecting Communities for Sustainable Growth

The primary goal of this workshop was to unite professionals from the textile community, especially new designers and entrepreneurs, and provide a supportive and engaging environment to discuss challenges, share insights, and encourage sustainable business practices.

The event fostered meaningful talks from sustainability drivers in the industry and included a networking and practice exchange session, allowing participants to openly discuss business challenges and innovative solutions. The discussion became particularly engaging as participants interacted directly with our guest speakers, sharing real-world experiences and overcoming similar challenges dictated by evolving sustainability guidelines.

Highlighting Sustainability Through Practical Innovations

The event kicked off with a brief overview of Reginnova NE and our ongoing projects, including TexDan. We provided participants with a brief yet structured presentation on the principles of circularity in textile industries, highlighting essential stages such as repair, reconditioning, upgrading, recycling, and remanufacturing to extend product lifespan. Effective collaboration and careful planning at each stage emerged as crucial elements for successful implementation.

Throughout the workshop, we explored, through practical examples given by our guest speakers, diverse sustainable techniques utilizing natural materials and traditional methods for natural dyeing, and zero waste methods for fashion garment manufacturing.

The participants also learned about alternative materials closely mimicking real leather, reflecting on strategies to promote consumer acceptance and adoption, driven by a common goal to protect the environment.

Our speakers

Stories of Transformation and Commitment to Sustainability

Elena Stanciu from “Poartă-mă cu flori” captivated the audience by sharing her inspiring journey. Beginning during the challenging times of the pandemic in 2020, Elena transitioned from traditional textile manufacturing to pioneering natural textile dyeing techniques. Through determination, continuous learning, and community engagement, she rediscovered and revitalized traditional Romanian plant-dyeing crafts. Elena openly shared her ongoing challenges—including fluctuating legislation, sourcing reliable natural fibers, and local climate issues affecting water supply—while emphasizing the transparency and integrity of her sustainable practices.

Ana from HUNA provided compelling insights into sustainable leather alternatives. She described HUNA’s evolution from a hobby into a fully-fledged business, emphasizing the workshop’s philosophy of maintaining a deep connection with nature. Ana introduced innovative, plant-based materials such as Pinatex (pineapple fibers), Malai (coconut cellulose), Lip Beyond Leather, and mushroom-based materials—demonstrating effective alternatives to traditional leather.

Katty Fashion showcased groundbreaking digital solutions aimed at enhancing collaboration between factories and designers. Their innovative digital hub, designed as an essential ecosystem for connecting European textile hubs, promises to revolutionize internal processes and collaboration within the industry.

what’s next

A Collaborative Path Forward

The workshop concluded with a dynamic open discussion, enabling participants to voice queries, challenges, and solutions. The interactive environment facilitated mutual support, fostering a collective approach to overcoming industry hurdles.

Moving forward, we warmly encourage anyone interested in sustainable innovation and circular economy practices to reach out to us. Reginnova NE is dedicated to supporting your sustainability journey and fostering meaningful change in the textile sector. Together, we can shape a more sustainable and innovative future!