Upcycling is on the verge of becoming a pan-European trend, according to fabric exhibition Heimtextil, which is currently planning the third edition of its Young Creations Award: Upcycling competition for young designers. For the first time, the competition is being opened to universities from all over Europe.
Ahead of the next Heimtextil – from 14-17th January 2015 – up-and-coming designers are being called upon to create upcycled products for indoor use. Students and graduates of design and interior architecture can now enter for the competition online.
"In view of the increased number of entries, the great interest shown in design by visitors and exhibitors and the positive echo from the media, we have decided to open up the competition to universities from all over Europe on the occasion of Heimtextil 2015," says Heimtextil's director Ulrike Wechsung.
Earlier this year, four German universities – Fachhochschule Aachen, Hochschule Coburg, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart and Kunsthochschule Weissensee – took part in the competition. In 2015, design academies from all over Europe will be invited to take part. The prizes for the winners are worth a total of €5000.
The Young Creations Award: Upcycling competition illuminates the subjects of textiles, sustainability and design, whereby the emphasis is now more than ever before on the textile character of the projects – textiles must account for at least 30% of the materials used.
In distinction to recycling, the aim of upcycling is to create higher-value products from waste products. "Upcycling is recycling with value added," explains Ulrike. "And behind it is a resource-friendly approach, offering great freedom for inspiration.
