The Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul hosted a special event on the cultural heritage of Turkey and the Netherlands from a circular textile perspective on 28-29 November 2024. The “Common Heritage and Circular Textile Project” was organized with the aim of strengthening sustainable cooperation between the two countries, reinforcing cultural ties and developing innovative solutions in the field of circular economy.
As part of the 100-year-old Turkey-Netherlands friendship, the event supported sustainability-focused approaches in the textile sector while also revealing how creative designs can meet cultural heritage. The program, facilitated by This is Mana Social Initiative, brought together academics, industry professionals and design students, paving the way for the sharing of knowledge and experience.
Event Highlights
At the opening of the event, two special keynote speeches were given following the Consul General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Istanbul, Arjen Uijterlinde. Former Director of the Tilburg Textile Museum and consultant Errol van de Werdt discussed the relationship between textile heritage and circular economy, while Human Innovation Designer Arzu Kaprol gave an inspiring speech on human-centered innovative designs and sustainability.
The first panel titled Textile Heritage and Circularity Practices: The Netherlands and Turkey shared important information about the textile history of the Netherlands and Turkey, while addressing current approaches to circular economies in both countries. The panel was moderated by Şölen Kipoz from İzmir University of Economics. Participants included Helen Milne from New Order of Fashion, Melida Tüzünoğlu from Vogue Turkey, and Hüner Aldemir, founder of the brands Huner and Ferah.
In the panel titled “Application of Circular Economy to the Textile Sector and Future Cooperation Opportunities”, pioneering approaches towards circular economy in the textile sector were discussed and future cooperation opportunities between Turkey and the Netherlands were discussed. Panelists included Mariette Hoitink from House of Denim, Vakur Besim Özek from İTKİB and Nicoline Dorsman from Eindhoven Design Academy.
Started with Online Education Program
The online training program, organized in the second week of November prior to the event, focused on circular economy practices, creative economy, responsible design approaches and local perspectives. This training, attended by students from university design and textile departments, formed the basis of the projects presented at the event.
Cultural Heritage and the Power of Circular Textiles
The “Common Heritage and Circular Textile Project” has deepened the cultural and economic ties between the two countries, as well as raising awareness of sustainable approaches in the textile sector. With this project, the Dutch Consulate has contributed to the development of innovative ideas and the strengthening of international cooperation.
