City of Design Talk: Connecting Textile Innovation + Creative Talent

During this presentation, Stijn Debaillie, Managing Director of Designregio Kortrijk, and Daphne Renier, Product Manager Textiles at Fedustria, introduce TEX DESIGN, a unique initiative that creates bridges between textile manufacturers and emerging creative talent. Developed jointly by Designregio Kortrijk and Fedustria, the programme demonstrates how collaboration between industry and design can generate fresh perspectives, accelerate innovation and uncover new opportunities for growth.

Belgium has a long-standing reputation for textile craftsmanship, manufacturing expertise and technological innovation. At the same time, designers continue to challenge existing products, processes and business models through experimentation and creative thinking. TEX DESIGN brings these worlds together. Each edition invites a promising designer to collaborate with a group of textile companies, encouraging participants to rethink materials, production methods and applications through a design-driven approach.

Rather than focusing solely on product development, TEX DESIGN creates a space for exploration. Designers gain access to industrial knowledge, production capabilities and specialized materials, while companies benefit from new ideas, unexpected viewpoints and alternative ways of thinking. This process often leads to discoveries that go beyond the original project scope and inspire future innovations within participating organizations.

The presentation will highlight the programme’s evolution through concrete examples, including the acclaimed installations STARLIGHT SHINE and Spell Blanket. These projects showcase how textile companies and designers can jointly translate technical expertise into powerful narratives and immersive experiences, while simultaneously demonstrating the versatility and innovation potential of contemporary textiles.

Beyond the projects themselves, the speakers will share insights into the methodology behind TEX DESIGN. How do you build trust between designers and manufacturers? How do creative partnerships contribute to innovation within established industries? What role can design play in identifying emerging opportunities, strengthening company branding and increasing international visibility?

The session will also explore how initiatives like TEX DESIGN contribute to a broader innovation ecosystem by connecting industry, education, research and the creative sector. In an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing global environment, collaboration across disciplines is becoming essential for companies seeking to remain relevant, resilient and future-oriented.

Participants will gain practical insights into the benefits of design-driven innovation, learn how creative collaboration can create value beyond traditional product development, and discover how the Belgian textile sector is using design as a strategic tool to strengthen its international position.

Whether you are a textile entrepreneur, manufacturer, designer, educator or innovation professional, this presentation offers an inspiring look at how cross-sector collaboration can transform challenges into opportunities and help shape the future of textiles.

Speakers

Stijn Debaillie – Managing Director, Designregio Kortrijk

Daphne Renier – Product Manager Textiles, Fedustria