NEWS: TTA – Textile Cluster Workshop – Sustainable Design Practices in Fashion for Water Protection – Presentation

On 24 February 2026, the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster, in cooperation with the International Balkan University, organised a workshop within the Mission4Water project titled “Sustainable Design Practices in Fashion for Water Protection” at the Ibu Faculty of Art and Design premises. The workshop focused on raising awareness and promoting sustainable design approaches aimed at water protection and pollution reduction in the textile sector.

The event was opened by Prof. Aleksandra Ristovska, Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design at International Balkan University, who briefly presented the Faculty’s work and previous collaborations and expressed her satisfaction with the cooperation established with the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster through this workshop. This was followed by opening remarks from Natasha Sivevska, Director of the Textile Trade Association – Textile Cluster, who introduced the activities of the Cluster, the current state of the textile industry in North Macedonia, the importance of circular economy principles, the environmental challenges linked to textile production, particularly microplastic release, and the Mission4Water project and its mission, including the open call for innovative projects and solutions.

Sabina Hadziahmetovic from the Hydro-Engineering Institute Sarajevo (HEIS) delivered a presentation on the impact of textile production on water resources, explaining how wet processing and finishing stages generate contaminated wastewater containing dyes, chemicals, and synthetic particles, and how limited removal efficiency in treatment systems allows microfibres and microplastics to enter natural water bodies. 

Prof. Maja Gjureska focused on textile innovation and responsible water use in fashion design, emphasising that material choice alone is not sufficient and that sustainability must be considered across the entire product lifecycle, including strategies that minimise waste and reduce microplastic release. 

Asst. Prof. Emilija Slavkova presented the role of 3D technology in sustainable design and optimisation of production processes, demonstrating how digital modelling, virtual sampling, and prototyping can reduce unnecessary physical samples, waste, and resource use. The workshop concluded with an interactive creative session led by Asst. Prof. Medina Hodza, titled “Second Life Textiles: Transforming Garments into Art,” where students applied circular economy R-strategies and upcycling approaches using previously utilised fashion materials.

A detailed description of the workshop, including the outcomes and students’ works, is available here.