The Dutch city of Enschede and the Italian textile district of Prato are working together to understand how local textile ecosystems can strengthen circular practices, particularly in the areas of reuse and repair. The two cities began their exchange in March 2026 through the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative’s Twinning Programme, bringing together two established textile territories with different industrial histories but a shared interest in developing more circular local systems.
A central element of the collaboration is a system-mapping approach that allows each territory to identify the actors, activities and relationships already contributing to textile circularity. Rather than applying a single model, the process aims to reveal how local ecosystems function, where connections are missing and where new opportunities for collaboration could emerge. This includes examining the role of businesses and SMEs, as well as the infrastructure and networks supporting repair and reuse. 
The first exchange highlighted complementary experiences. In Enschede, an existing ecosystem of informal tailors has provided a basis for developing a more formal repair network. Prato, meanwhile, is exploring how the characteristics and resources of its established textile district could support a stronger local approach to reuse. Comparing these experiences allows both territories to identify common challenges while learning from different approaches to organising local circular activities.
This twinning initiative displays the importance of place-based approaches to textile circularity. Local textile ecosystems differ significantly in terms of industrial structures, skills, businesses, infrastructure and existing networks. Understanding these characteristics can help identify solutions that are better aligned with local conditions and can strengthen connections between different actors.
By combining system mapping with peer learning, Enschede and Prato are developing a more detailed picture of their respective textile ecosystems and identifying potential pathways towards stronger repair and reuse networks. The collaboration also shows how established textile regions can use their existing industrial knowledge and local relationships as a foundation for developing new circular opportunities.