Ready
Transformation of the textile industry – a more sustainable future
- • Gathering knowledge and methods
- • Examining locally produced textiles
- • Design for circularity and long lifetimes
Purpose
Transformation of the textile industry – a more sustainable future
The research project will make Denmark a leader in sustainable textile production.
Outsourcing of the Danish textile industry’s production has resulted in a major loss of knowledge. With DKK 17.5 million from Innovation Fund Denmark, the project READY will gather new knowledge about sustainable textile production and give Denmark a world-leading position in this area.
The ambition behind READY is to strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of small and large textile businesses to enable them to achieve their growth potential through optimised production methods, new textiles, technologies, design strategies and circular business models.
What you get:
Benefits for your business
Participants in READY will gain access to the latest knowledge within sustainable textile production. Working closely with researchers and industry experts, the businesses can develop new products, optimise production methods and create circular business models. This improves the participant’s competitiveness and furthers a sustainable future for the industry.
Poul-Erik Jørgensen
, Research leader
VIA University College
VIA University College
“Project READY aims to give Denmark a global leadership position in sustainable textile production by strengthening innovation, optimizing production methods, and creating circular business models.”
READY aims to strengthen the power of innovation and competition
Denmark’s textile industry has been a growth engine worth billions for 70 years but is now faced with the need for transformation as the future calls for increased sustainability throughout the value chain. Developing and testing new solutions and materials requires new knowledge, better infrastructure and technical facilities. Several partners have therefore joined efforts in the research project READY.
The goal of READY is to develop knowledge and support scalable solutions which enable the textile industry to mature recycled and local raw materials and new fibres in a circular loop. The result will be better-quality products which are more durable and can be recycled and contain no hazardous substances.
A Research and Development Factory will be built at VIA University College in Herning as part of the project. Here, the research and development work will be carried out in close collaboration with the project partners.
The ambition behind READY is to strengthen the innovative power and competitiveness of large and small textile businesses to enable them to achieve their growth potential through optimised production methods, new textiles, technologies, design strategies and circular business models.
Partners in the project
Financing
VIA University College, Danish Technological Institute, Lifestyle and Design Cluster, Royal Danish Academy, University of Southern Denmark and Aalborg University
Bestseller, Kvadrat, Nybo Workwear, Sontex Tekstil, Kjellerup Væveri, HAACK Recycling and Textile Change.
All parties contribute financially to project READY, which has a total budget of DKK 29.5 million.
Press release
READY at the Climate People’s Meeting in Middelfart
On Thursday, 28 August 2025, READY hosted a panel debate on the Beige Stage under the headline “Are You READY for the Future Textile Loop?”. The discussion focused on sustainable textile production, new materials, and circular solutions. Lifestyle & Design Cluster moderated the panel, which included participants from VIA University College, the Royal Danish Academy, Kvadrat, and BESTSELLER. Together, they explored how research, design, industry, and retail can create new sustainable frameworks for the textile sector.
Later the same day, on the Yellow Stage, Lifestyle & Design Cluster facilitated a dialogue with VIA University College in a packed tent under the theme “Your Clothes Are a Resource!” – addressing favorite garments, use, fit, and disposal.
From 28–30 August, the Climate People’s Meeting 2025 gathered citizens, researchers, companies, politicians, and organizations in Middelfart for three days of debate, culture, and inspiration on climate and the green transition.
How Can Used Textiles Become a Resource?
At the People’s Meeting 2025, PhD student Xenia Mikkelsen from SDU Innovation and Design Engineering demonstrated how fibres from used textiles can be integrated into new materials – while also highlighting the challenges involved. The READY project showcased experimental materials made from hemp, flax, wool, and recycled cotton from jeans – with a focus on design, durability, and recyclability.
Workshop Day at VIA Campus C in Aarhus on Circular Business Models
The topic of the workshop on 8 May 2025 at VIA Campus C in Aarhus was circular business models, with a focus on READY materials and project partners. The program included both theoretical research presentations and results on companies’ ability to integrate sustainability into their organizations, insights from BESTSELLER on circular business models within resale, rental, repair, and redesign, as well as practical workshop sessions. Here, innovation served as a key driver for the sustainable development of new circular business models using recycled F2F, hemp, wool, flax, and nettle as “new” biofibres.
READY visits Kvadrat
Companies and knowledge partners in the READY project recently gathered at Kvadrat in Ebeltoft for a full-day meeting to review the status of the work packages, with a focus on both data and the developed textile samples. Before the steering committee meeting in the afternoon, DTI facilitated a workshop highlighting the innovative value creation that READY has already brought to the textile industry halfway through the project period, as well as exploring the partners' ambitions for the project's final outcomes.
Workshop at the Royal Danish Academy focused on natural fibres
On 27 March, the Royal Danish Academy at Holmen in Copenhagen hosted a workshop day centred around the use and properties of hemp, wool and other natural fibres.
Knowledge presentations from DKA, accompanied by material samples, sparked engaging discussions around imperfection as the new normal and debates on what exactly the term 'local production' encompasses. READY aims to provide an answer to this question as the project progresses.
The research group contributed an article to Politiken
With mandatory collection of textile waste being introduced across the EU from 1 January 2025, we are facing a critical decision: Should we incinerate our used textiles, or find more sustainable solutions?
This was the topic of a debate led by the research group in an article for Politiken Finans. The article is behind a paywall and can be read [here].)
The research group behind Project READY consists of:
Poul-Erik Jørgensen (Research, Development and Innovation Manager, VIA University College)
Else Skjold (Associate Professor and PhD in Design and Sustainability, Royal Danish Academy)
Lars Haahr Jepsen (Project Manager and PhD, Danish Technological Institute)
Funding and Knowledge Partners
