Textile, Tryouts and Technology

On May 20, the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, will present awards to the winners of “Ullarþon”, the Textile Center’s idea and innovation competition held in collaboration with Innovation Center Iceland. The main aim of the competition, funded by the Icelandic Agriculture Fund, was to increase the value of Icelandic wool. More than 100 participants submitted 63 solutions in four competition categories.

In the days leading up to the award ceremony, which will be held at the Textile Association's exhibition in Hafnatorg, Reykjavík, a selection of submissions (video shorts) will be shown on the Ullarthon's Facebook page. The winner in each category will receive a prize of 400,000 ISK each, as well as gifts from Ístex wool factory; one team will be awarded with a 5 day stay at Hallormsstaðaskóli school to continue working with their idea.

On May 21, the formal opening of the TextileLab will take place in Blönduós, Þverbraut 1. The first of its kind in Iceland, the TextileLab offers access to state-of-the-art textile equipment and digital technology for designers, entrepreneurs, students and artists. The project received a development grant from the Icelandic Infrastructure Fund and is part of our ongoing European collaboration CENTRINNO, funded by the research and innovation programme Horizon2020. Good research infrastructure will accelerate the introduction of new technology in textiles in Iceland, and greatly increase opportunities for design and production of new products using natural resources, such as Icelandic wool.

After the formal opening at 14:00, there will be an open house until 20:00. If you can not make it to Blönduós, join us on social media! (Facebook / Instagram: #textilmidstod / Icelandic Textile Center).