With a high-profile panel discussion, the European project FashionTEX kicks off in Chemnitz as part of the 2025 European Capital of Culture program. The goal of the initiative is to rethink the textile and fashion industry through digital transformation, sustainable production, and innovative technologies. The event served as the starting point for a dialogue between industry, academia, and the creative sector, aiming to spark future collaborations and developments. It also fosters the much-needed exchange between different disciplines, with a focus on the joint search for future-proof solutions. The panel discussion was moderated by publicist Axel Brüggemann. The impressive venue, “fabrik chemnitz,” provided the perfect setting, combining history and innovation.

Wolfgang Grupp, entrepreneur and former owner of TRIGEMA, emphasized that the key to the future lies in focusing on high-quality products and training young talents: “Digitalization is not new. It started with the first computers. Today, it is the task of my children and the next generation.”He also highlighted the importance of regional production: “Entrepreneurs bear responsibility for their region. When we produce high-quality products, we not only strengthen our company, but also the community.”

Dr. Susanne Richter, managing director of the Saxon Industrial Museum Association, emphasized the role of history as a driver of innovation: “The industrial heritage of Saxony shows how innovation can arise from tradition. The textile industry is European and interdisciplinary. We need to develop concepts that connect the past and the future.” She stressed the significance of the Chemnitz region as a place of transformation: “Places like the Tuchfabrik Gebrüder Pfau in Crimmitschau make transformation tangible. Here, one can experience how history is brought into the present. The question is: How do we bring traditional values into a modern context?”

Flavia Bon, founder of AUGMENTED WEAVING, brought the perspective of digital technologies to the discussion. “Digitalization brings the world into our homes. It gives us tools to reinterpret decades-old knowledge and integrate it into modern technologies.” She repeatedly emphasizes that craftsmanship is essential. The visionary thinker sees Artificial Intelligence as a way to create creative freedom: “AI helps us do things we don’t enjoy and gives us time to focus on innovation. It is our task to find new working methods and to connect the knowledge of the past with the possibilities of the future.”

Annett Reeder, project manager at FashionTEX, provided further context for the project and explained the importance of education and courage in the academic world. “Educators must be willing to embrace new approaches and pass on current developments to young talents. The design process has long been digitalized, and it is our task to prepare the next generation for this.” This is precisely what FashionTEX stands for—a platform that strengthens the dialogue between craftsmanship, research, and business: “Chemnitz is the ideal place where tradition and innovation come together. Every day, new creative ideas emerge here that we want to gather and further develop.”

The panel discussion made it clear that the textile and fashion industry faces significant challenges—ranging from digitalization and sustainability to the integration of tradition and innovation. However, the guests also highlighted how important it is to approach these issues in an interdisciplinary and European context. As part of FashionTEX, meetings have already been held in Lisbon and Amsterdam with all the participating universities, and professional development courses on 3D fashion design for educators are also being offered.

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