The textile industry is confronting numerous obstacles that could jeopardize its long-term viability, making this a pivotal moment in its history. But this crisis also presents a chance for change, and Sara Rosberg, the CEO and Founder of Transforming Textiles AB, is leading this charge as a visionary leader who has a strong dedication to bringing about positive change and a thorough awareness of the complexity of the textile business.
She leads a group of committed experts at Transforming Textiles AB that are passionate about sustainability and innovation. Possessing a strong eye for design and a background in materials science, she offers a distinctive viewpoint by fusing technical know-how with original problem-solving.
Under Sara’s leadership, the firm has created creative ways to disrupt the conventional take-make-dispose textile production process. The company is at the forefront of the circular economy movement in the textile sector, having pioneered the use of recycled materials in high-performance fabrics and implemented closed-loop technologies that decrease waste.
Let us explore her journey:
A Smart Innovator
Sara has a rich background in the textile industry spanning over two decades. With experience across Sweden, London, and Italy, she has held various positions in the field. Rosberg’s deep enthusiasm for science and technology has recently converged with her creative textile skills, leading her to embark on a journey in the smart textile sector.
Born in Sri Lanka and adopted by a Swedish family at just two months old, Rosberg believes her passion for textiles is rooted in her biological mother’s talents as a Saari designer, even though her academic pursuits originally began in the field of science.
Transforming Textiles AB
Transforming Textiles AB, founded in 2020, is a trailblazing company that is revolutionizing the textile industry with its innovative smart textile solutions. The inception of the company was driven by a personal tragedy experienced by its founder and CEO, Sara, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sara’s motivation to create a more efficient and sustainable way to protect loved ones and enable social interaction stemmed from the loss of her mother during the pandemic. Witnessing the struggles of both patients and healthcare staff, she recognized the urgent need for a solution. Leveraging her background in textiles, she embarked on extensive research to explore the possibility of replacing disposable tests with a textile-based alternative. Through a collaborative effort with Space Engineer Marcelo Boldt, she developed a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) that later evolved into Sense-Tex with the help of Tahir Haytoglu in Turkey.
Sense-Tex is an innovative smart textile that combines style, functionality, and sustainability. When integrated with sensors, this unique 5-fiber yarn construction can provide real-time alerts to users’ mobile devices if they exhibit symptoms of viral infections. The creation of Sense-Tex represents a significant milestone for Transforming Textiles AB, as it not only pays homage to Sara’s late mother’s legacy of comfort, protection, and healing but also addresses the pressing need for advanced textile solutions in the healthcare industry.
Furthermore, the unique 5-fiber construction of Sense-Tex enables efficient fiber-to-fiber mechanical recycling, aligning with the company’s commitment to sustainability. Transforming Textiles AB is dedicated to ensuring that innovations like Sense-Tex are accessible to a wide audience, breaking down financial barriers to health and safety. The company’s obligation to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility has positioned it as a leader in the smart textile industry.
Sustainable Solutions for a Changing World
The excessive consumption, overproduction, and depletion of natural resources have brought the world to a critical juncture, where the ability to clothe the global population is under threat. The textile industry, long plagued by a lack of long-term solutions, now faces a pressing need for change.
This urgency is underscored by recent regulatory directives introduced by the European Union, such as the Textile Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. By 2025 and 2030, all EU member states will be required to implement separate textile waste units and establish collection systems for used textiles, signaling a shift towards a more sustainable and circular approach.
Balancing Demand and Responsibility
The textile industry faces a pressing challenge in today’s world. Sara explains that the average person purchases around 14 kg of new clothes and textiles annually, but nearly a third of these items remain unused. Alarmingly, approximately 8 kg per person per year ends up as waste, contributing significantly to environmental degradation.
In the European Union alone, 12.6 million tons of textile waste are generated, with clothes and shoes accounting for 5.2 million tons, equivalent to 14 kg per person per year. This problem affects both consumers and the industry itself, highlighting the need for a collective commitment to sustainability.
While there is an increasing demand for sustainable options among individuals and organizations, the average consumer’s willingness to pay more for such choices remains relatively low. Sara emphasizes the importance of a mindset shift to avoid irreversible consequences and stresses that there is still time to make a positive difference.
Transforming Textiles for a Sustainable Future
Sara believes that Transforming Textiles AB can revolutionize the textile manufacturing industry by adopting a comprehensive approach that combines promise and constant innovation. To achieve this, the company recognizes the significance of interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations with various industries and sectors.
By leveraging the expertise of professionals from diverse backgrounds, they aim to develop a new and improved mechanical recycling process, supplemented by digital processes. Their focus extends beyond a single industry, as they actively operate in the fields of space, healthcare, and fashion. By addressing the unique challenges faced by these industries, they are confident that they can collectively overcome them and make a lasting impact.
Power of Ethical Innovation
Sara firmly believes that innovation is of utmost importance in driving change, but true transformation is achieved through the dedicated efforts of individuals and their collective resolve. This holds true not only for consumers but also within the realm of innovation itself. It is crucial to recognize that innovations alone will not adequately address the challenges ahead unless they are led by individuals who possess ethical and sustainable mindsets, guiding us towards a more sustainable future.
Moreover, the funding landscape could be improved to support and expedite the market entry of innovative solutions.
A Necessary Transformation
Sara strongly supports the regulatory changes currently being initiated by the European Union (EU), as she believes they are essential in driving significant transformations within the industry. It is important to recognize that the industry may not possess the capability or inclination to independently implement these changes. Legal frameworks play a pivotal role in facilitating this transformation and guiding us towards a future that is both environmentally and socially sustainable.
However, it is imperative for individuals to be aware and prepared to adjust their consumption patterns in terms of textiles and garments. The average person must be willing to change their purchasing and usage behaviors to align with the new regulations and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Textile Industry’s Silence-Culture and Its Impact
Sara shares her perspective on the silence-culture prevalent in the textile industry and its influence on the sector’s progress. She acknowledges the industry’s fast-paced and demanding nature, making it challenging to implement changes without significant financial consequences. The fear of disrupting a system that supports one’s livelihood further complicates the matter.
However, she highlights the importance of considering the environmental impact of the fashion industry, which is crucial for its long-term sustainability. She notes that while the craftsmanship of clothing was once highly valued, the rise of fast fashion has led to the normalization of inexpensive and disposable clothing, making a return to previous practices unlikely.
Nevertheless, Sara recognizes the positive aspect of fast fashion, as it has made fashion accessible to a broader range of individuals, promoting inclusivity. In her business plan, she envisioned a digital transformation of fashion, where garments could be altered digitally without changing the material, including color, form, and even size. Although similar technologies exist today, they are neither sustainable nor recyclable. She believes that integrating such technologies represents a step toward a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. Ultimately, she acknowledges that only time will reveal the industry’s future direction.
Preserving Craftsmanship and Addressing Sustainability
Sara holds the utmost respect for their manufacturers, Kipas, Ozen Mensucat, and Fethi Textil in Turkey, where they produce Sense-tex. Craftsmanship in producing yarns, fabrics, and garments is a skill that takes years, if not a lifetime, to master. Preserving and valuing this knowledge is crucial, as it forms a significant part of the cultural heritage and craftsmanship of clothing production.
Unfortunately, this valuable expertise is at risk of disappearing as production has shifted to other countries, putting the industry in danger of facing a shortage of skilled personnel and the loss of knowledge transfer, particularly in yarn manufacturing, for future generations.
It is regrettable that manufacturers rarely receive the recognition they deserve for their vital contribution to the creation of exceptional garments and textiles. Behind each piece lies an extensive amount of work that often goes unnoticed. One way to address this issue is by preserving and passing on years of tradition and experience in yarn production. Additionally, the issue of textile waste and recycling is another critical aspect that needs attention.
Transformative Changes on the Horizon
Sara has been a vocal advocate for addressing the pressing issue of textile waste, especially in light of the recent regulatory changes implemented by the EU. She envisions a transformative approach that focuses on effective fiber sourcing and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring that soil is not contaminated and the quality of end products is maintained.
She emphasizes the importance of ethical production within socially sustainable working environments and recognizes the crucial role of design and creativity in the fashion industry. She advocates for consumption that aligns with environmental balance principles and promotes circularity to minimize the visibility of waste mountains, which are now so large they can be seen from space.
Sara calls for a cultural shift towards valuing and reusing textiles rather than disposing of them. She also highlights the need to address the challenge of fiber-to-fiber mechanical recycling for blended materials and urges the implementation of regulations to ensure future materials’ recyclability and the elimination of toxic substances in production.
The Consumer’s Pivotal Role
Experts assert that consumers will play a pivotal role in driving the transition towards sustainability in the textile industry. As consumers increasingly embrace more sustainable options, market dynamics will naturally adjust to meet this growing demand.
However, it is acknowledged that substantial change cannot rely solely on market forces. To achieve significant progress, it is essential to make textile recycling convenient and accessible in everyday life. One proposed approach involves implementing a system where individuals are incentivized to recycle textiles, similar to the model used with PET bottles, where a small fee is returned upon recycling.
Motivation will undoubtedly be a crucial factor in facilitating this transition, encouraging consumers to actively participate in creating a more sustainable future.
A Call for Kindness
Industry leaders and experts argue that the integration of social and environmental considerations into the textile industry begins with a fundamental yet powerful principle: practicing kindness. This approach, though seemingly simple, can pose challenges for some.
Demonstrating empathy, forward-thinking, and consideration for others is crucial. By focusing on recognizing the potential in people rather than their shortcomings, the industry can foster an inclusive environment that avoids discrimination.
Despite the differences in our appearances, we are all united in this journey called life, each possessing unique contributions to offer the world. Encouraging and nurturing these talents rather than dismissing them is essential for a socially and environmentally responsible textile industry.
This shift in mindset can lead to more ethical practices, creating a positive impact on both the industry and the planet.
Revolutionary: A Collaborative and Inclusive Future for the Textile Industry
Industry observers are captivated by the most exciting aspect of the Transforming Textiles AB initiative: its proof that seemingly impossible achievements are attainable. This initiative has demonstrated that innovative solutions can emerge from any individual, anywhere in the world, even from unexpected sources.
By nurturing collaboration across different sectors, Transforming Textiles AB has shown that together, we can collectively shape a better future. Whether or not Transforming Textiles AB endures long-term, it has been established that sustainable solutions for the textile industry are not only possible but also beneficial to society.
The initiative’s emphasis on encouraging inclusive business models is paving the way for a socially sustainable future. It underscores the imperative to recognize the capacity and determination of women to contribute valuable insights and solutions to significant discussions.
The outdated notion of “us versus them” is being replaced with a unified vision for the future. Observers note that this initiative highlights the collective responsibility to shape a shared future, one that is inclusive and sustainable for all.
Follow/Connect on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-rosberg-475537180/
