On April 25, 2024, the Warsaw University of Technology Main Building hosted the Final Gala of the first Designers Play Sustain upcycling fashion competition organized by the Play Sustain Foundation. Aimed at promoting sustainability in the fashion industry, the competition brought together designers from all over the country to present their works made from recycled and upcycled materials. The event attracted great interest from artists, businesses, institutions, industry professionals and the general public alike, highlighting the importance of green, sustainable practices in modern design.
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VIVE Innovation has developed the VIVE Texcellence textile composite production technology, which is protected by global patents. It is produced from textile waste. It is used to build, among other things, benches, platforms, platforms, tables and also one of the elements of the event's outstanding stage design, a proprietary lighting object exposed on the main stage, which uses LED LUMINES LIGHTING technology. Designed by Marek Lorens - an architect, working with the Competition Partners. It is a creative demonstration of the possibility of combining different technologies to create eco-friendly, circular and low-emission products. Lighting technology was provided by LED Labs - a Polish manufacturer, a leader in LED linear lighting systems, a partner of the competition.
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Marek Lorens explains:
The idea was to create a product made of Vive Texcellence composite, consisting of 60% destroyed clothing and 40% recycled plastic. This material, which has been in production for 8 years, is waterproof, very durable and recyclable. We have been using it successfully for several years in the construction industry, including for reinforcing slopes, terraces and facades. We've been able to achieve even more - the composite is very durable, the textiles form a kind of reinforcement, and the whole thing can be 100% recycled many times, which closes the cycle of the most difficult to dispose of waste, which is clothing. Thank you to LED Labs for participating in this project. Together with their R&D department, we have created from scratch a product that is extremely eco-friendly and presents the highest level of quality and performance.
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The REC light fixture created can additionally be equipped with an air quality sensor, and its status can be visualized with the appropriate light color. The combination of innovation in design and modern low-carbon LED lighting technology has resulted in a product that meets the challenges of the modern world.
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Upcycling is the process of transforming used, second-hand or unneeded materials into products of higher value or quality than the original. Unlike recycling, upcycling involves transforming waste materials into products with greater aesthetic, functional or environmental value. An example of just such an activity is Mark Lorens' project, carried out in cooperation with VIVE Innovation and LUMINES LIGHTING technology from LED Labs.
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Marek Lorens
Architect, entrepreneur, building and interior designer, owner of a design office. He gained experience by implementing projects in the best studios in Warsaw, Vienna and Bavaria. Since 2007, he has co-managed Lorens AiD studio, and in 2017 he founded Office Tailors. He manages a team of designers and oversees contracts and administrative processes. He specializes in architecture and interior design and development. He has won numerous awards, including the Grand Prix in the competition for the new center of Warsaw and the "One of the 7 Wonders of Poland National Geographic" award for the Interactive Museum of the Teutonic State in Działdów.
LED Labs
Polish manufacturer, leader in the category of linear LED lighting systems and creator of the world's only 3D tool for creating individualized linear lighting systems - K3D Lumines Lighting. LED Labs is changing the perception of LED lighting, creating unique experiences for users and making a positive impact on the world and the environment. Discover the possibilities of LED technology with our portfolio of brands: LED Labs Lighting, Lumines Lighting and Cobalt Electro. It's EASY to be CREATIVE!
Play Sustain Foundation
The Play Sustain Foundation works for ethical fashion and the formation of positive consumer habits of Polish women and men Partnerships, education, ecology - on these foundations is built the Play Sustain Foundation, which has ambitious goals - to have a real impact on reducing the overproduction of textiles and to implement responsible consumer habits.
VIVE Innovation
VIVE Innovation is engaged in the search for innovative solutions to enable 100% recycling of textiles. As part of its activities, it conducts research to produce new products from recycled textile fibers. Among other things, the company has created an innovative textile composite, VIVE Texcellence, which combines the advantages of plastic and wood - it is durable, weather-resistant and at the same time easy to process. It is environmentally friendly - the base composite is composed of 100% recycled materials (mainly clothing) and is 100% recyclable. Its production leaves a minimal C02 footprint and fits perfectly into a closed loop economy.
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