The HEREWEAR project, formally titled Bio‑based local sustainable circular wear, was funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. It ran from October 2020 to October 2024, with a total budget of EUR 7.0 million and an EU contribution of EUR 6.16 million. Coordinated by CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE & TECHNIQUE DE L'INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE ASBL (Belgium), the consortium brought together 16 partners from Europe and the United States, including research organisations, SMEs, industrial manufacturers and design experts. The project aimed to develop locally produced circular textiles from bio‑based resources by developing new fibre materials and sustainable textile processes. It also promoted circular design approaches and localised manufacturing models to support a more sustainable textiles ecosystem. 

A key part of HEREWEAR was the development of innovative bio‑based materials, the promotion of circular design approaches, and the creation of digitally supported production systems. These efforts aimed to establish a localised, circular textiles ecosystem by addressing each aspect with targeted activities.

Material development

• Development of a biobased material sample collection to support circular product development for designers and SMEs.  
• Advancement of biorefinery methods for producing cellulosic fibres from seaweed, manure and wheat straw, including upscaling for wetspinning requirements.  
• Production of biopolyester and cellulose filaments from laboratory to pilot scale, alongside hybrid yarn solutions to tailor material performance.  
• Creation of woven and knitted textile intermediates using HEREWEAR fibres, with innovations in enzymatic treatments, biobased coating and printing, dyeing and finishing.  

Design approaches

• Development of the BIOTEN design guidelines to support circular product development for designers and SMEs.
• Manufacture and assessment of over 70 prototype garments for streetwear and corporate clothing, demonstrating material performance and circularity potential.  

Production systems and digital tools

• Completion of environmental and social assessments, including Life Cycle Assessment and evaluation of microfibre release across production steps.  
• Establishment of the HEREWEAR Community of more than 250 members, complemented by workshops, webinars, training and cocreation activities.  
• Launch of the HEREWEAR Hub, offering more than 40 tools, guidelines and resources to support the wider uptake of project results.  
• Development of digital transparency tools, including blockchain enabled labelling and digital twin approaches for improved traceability. 

HEREWEAR supported ongoing European efforts to make textile value chains more sustainable by advancing bio‑based materials, circular design approaches and localised production models. The development of cellulosic fibres from biowaste streams, together with new bio‑polyester options, offered additional pathways for diversifying material sources. Advances in wet and melt spinning, bio‑based finishing and design tools contribute to developing resource‑efficient manufacturing and circular product development. The project also examined microfactory concepts, microfibre release and end‑of‑life handling, contributing insights that align with wider European work on circularity, eco‑design and transparency in textiles.  

HEREWEAR was coordinated by CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE & TECHNIQUE DE L'INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE ASBL and brought together partners from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain, Romania, Greece, France, and the United States. The consortium combined multidisciplinary expertise across biorefinery, fibre spinning, textile engineering, design for circularity, digitalisation and sustainability assessment. This strong European collaboration enabled extensive knowledge exchange through the HEREWEAR Community and Hub, public guidelines, academic publications, workshops, training materials and a Technology Transfer Symposium.