The Heimtextil University Contest offers national and international students and universities in the field of textile design the opportunity to present their final theses or design projects to an international trade public and the press. The winners are selected by a high-calibre jury and exhibit their work during Heimtextil in Hall 3.0.
Creative visions: The winners 2025
As part of the international Heimtextil University Contest 2025, three winners impressed with their outstanding concepts: Kateryna Basiuk from Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts in Switzerland was inspired by the fine structure of moth wings and designed sound absorbers made from recycled yarns in her ‘Silent Canvas’ project, which are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Finnish designer Eszter Nagy from Aalto University explored the theme of light with her ‘Lumen Collection’, in which she stages woven textiles as floating membranes between light and space.
Birke-Katharina Weber from the Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, on the other hand, dedicated her work ‘MycoColors’ to the development of sustainable dyes from fungi and explored innovative possibilities for ecological dyeing techniques.
Kateryna Basiuk, Lucerne University, Switzerland – Silent Canvas
In her ‘Silent Canvas’ project, Kateryna Basiuk is exploring how recycled yarns can be used for circular sound absorbers while simultaneously improving their aesthetic and visual properties. She takes her inspiration from the sound-absorbing microstructures of moth wings.
Her key technique for recreating these natural structures in recycled materials is knitting. The project addresses SDG 12.5, the reduction of waste generation through reuse. The work is part of a project of the Products & Textiles Research Group - HSLU Design, Film & Art.
Eszter Nagy, Aalto University, Finland – Lumen-Kollektion
Sustainability and light: In her ‘Lumen Collection’, Eszter Nagy presents textiles woven from natural materials that navigate as membranes between light and space. Her two main pieces were created on the industrial machine at Aalto University, which has a cotton warp. The density and thickness of the yarn led Eszter Nagy to test multi-layered structures and fil-coupe to increase light transmission.
During the design process, she tried out hand-woven structures and treated them in different ways: In ‘Lilla’, she weaves a two-layer structure with linen wefts that reveal their long floats in the fabric when light falls on them. ‘Duo’ is created as a single fabric with a double weave, which is later cut apart using the fil-coupe technique. The pattern is woven with wool, which fixes the position of the cut wefts after washing and drying. The two fabrics created in this way form reciprocal negative patterns which, when laid on top of each other as a curtain, create a playful effect.
Birke-Katharina Weber, Weißensee Kunsthochschule Berlin, Germany – MycoColors
‘MycoColors’ is dedicated to the colourful world of mushrooms: In her research work, Birke-Katharina Weber is investigating innovative methods for extracting textile dyes from mushrooms that have the potential to serve as an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic dyes.
Birke-Katharina Weber is researching different types of fungi and extraction processes in order to develop a wide range of sustainable colour options for the textile industry. Extractive processes for obtaining dyes from the fruiting bodies of existing fungal species and the controllable growth of mycelia in bioreactors are used for this purpose. Their aim is to create a constantly growing range of colours that can also be transferred to other materials.
A prize with many advantages
The winners will receive a free exhibition stand in the immediate vicinity of the Trend Arena in Hall 3.0 - a crowd-puller that guarantees maximum attention. Here they will have the opportunity to network on a global level and make valuable business contacts. In addition, ten free visitor tickets will be provided.
In addition, the Heimtextil PR & Marketing team will support all winners with international media coverage and targeted advertising measures.
The expert jury at Heimtextil 2025
Laetitia Forst
Scientific textile design
Background in textile design, she graduated with a masters from ENSAD Paris in 2015. She went on to work as a freelance designer and consultant before starting her PhD research with the Centre for Circular Design, which she completed in 2020. One of her key interests is in the effects of sustainability ‘constraints’ on the creative process, considering how they can be drivers for innovation rather than limitations. She is currently working as a postdoctoral researcher on two University of Arts London research projects: the Business of Fashion Textiles and Technology (BFTT) project with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and HEREWEAR with the Centre for Circular Design.
Maarit Salolainen
Professor in Textile Design, Aalto University, Creative Director, Vanelli
Maarit Salolainen is Head of the MA Major in Fashion, Clothing and Textile Design and Professor in Textile Design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. She is an experienced textile design professional with a passion for bringing textile knowledge to multidisciplinary platforms. Alongside her academic work, Salolainen works in the international textile industry. As a Creative Director for the Turkish interior textile mill Vanelli, she leads a team of designers and engineers in developing new concepts, products and collections for international interior textile editors and brands.
Tina Moor
Scientific design and arts
Professor for Textile Design at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. Since 2004 active in design research. From 2010 to 2021, head of the textile design field of study and deputy vice-director for teaching from 2015 to 2017. Currently, mainly involved in research and teaching, leading several interdisciplinary Innosuisse projects with industrial partners from the textile, product and machinery sectors.
Lutz Walter
Textile Technology and Innovation
Secretary General of European Textile Technology Platform, Textile innovation expert, network manager, key note speaker and book author. Has a consulting company specialized in research, technology, and new market trends, innovation policies, strategies, management and finance focused on the European textile and fashion sector. Shaped the strategies and policies for research and innovation of the European textile and clothing sector and managed large-scale European research projects for close to 20 years.
Svenja Bernhold
Textile industry of fashion and sustainability
After her Master’s degree from Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Halle, Svenja started her career as a textile designer in the fashion industry. For a small label from Bavaria she developed handmade high quality knitwear. Since 2020 she is a designer and product manager at Zimmer + Rohde. She creates textiles for interiors with a strong focus on colours, sustainability and innovative materials. Svenja teaches Textile Surface Design at the University of Art and Design in Offenbach and lives with her family close to Frankfurt.
Saman Khodabandeh
Digital & Sustainable Textile Microfactory
Textile engineer and manager, who graduated from University Albstadt-Sigmaringen in Germany. Experience and insights in the discounter textile business as buying product manager and junior sourcing manager Asia. Since 2020 business development and project manager at Mitwill Textiles in France. Contribution as a project manager to the participation of Mitwill in three EU projects and writing proposals, as well managing company projects for innovation, sustainability and digitization.