Re:inventex in Sweden: a training week in Borås
In August, Tetiana Pushkarova, Development Manager at Re:inventex, took part in a study tour to Sweden as part of the international project TEX4YUA "Sustainable Excellence of Ukrainian Youth in the Textile and Apparel Industry", at the invitation of the Innovation Generation Foundation. The initiative is implemented with the support of the SI Baltic Sea Neighbourhood Programme by the Swedish Institute (Svenska institutet).
The trip was not only a study visit but also an opportunity to immerse in the history and modern reality of the city of Borås, known as the heart of Sweden’s textile industry. Already in the 19th century, Borås became the country’s leading hub for textile and knitwear production, and today the city is striving to restore its reputation through innovation, the circular economy, and strong partnerships between science and business.
From hackathon to laboratories
The first day began with the RESITEX Hackathon, where participants from Ukraine, Sweden, and Bangladesh worked on solutions for the green transition in the textile industry.
“It is inspiring to see people from different countries working in one team and speaking the same language — the language of responsibility and innovation. It gives confidence that our ideas have the potential for real change,” said Tetiana Pushkarova.
Another highlight of the week was the introduction to the Swedish School of Textiles at the University of Borås. Students and faculty here work with advanced equipment: weaving and knitting machines, laboratories for fiber analysis, dyeing, and materials testing. This creates an environment where theory immediately turns into practice.
“I was impressed by how open the university is to industry partnerships. It’s a real demonstration of how education can work for the economy and vice versa. This kind of collaboration between academia and business is exactly what we need to develop in Ukraine,” Tetiana noted.
Wargön Innovation — a factory of the future
A special impression was left by the visit to Wargön Innovation — a cutting-edge center where technologies for the circular economy in textiles are developed and tested. Here one can see equipment for sorting textile waste as well as examples of artificial intelligence applied to identify and process materials.
“At Wargön Innovation you truly feel that the future has already arrived. The technologies we in Ukraine are only starting to discuss are already working here and delivering results. It inspires me to think about how we can adapt similar solutions for our reality,” Tetiana said.
Why this matters for Ukraine
The experience of Borås and its ambition to regain the status of Sweden’s textile capital is very relevant for Ukraine. The city demonstrates that even after the decline of a traditional industry, renewal is possible through innovation, sustainable development, and international cooperation.
For Re:inventex, this journey confirmed that the Ukrainian textile sector also has strong potential for revival. What we saw in Sweden — from university laboratories to innovation hubs — can serve as a reference point for creating a new infrastructure for textile recycling in Ukraine.
“We in Ukraine have all the resources to build a modern textile recycling system. What is needed is synergy between education, business, and the state. And our company is ready to be one of the drivers of this process,” Tetiana Pushkarova emphasized.
Re:inventex extends sincere gratitude to the TEX4YUA team, the Innovation Generation Foundation, and Swedish partners for organizing the training tour. It was a week of new knowledge, valuable contacts, and inspiration, proving once again: innovation is born where there is teamwork, collaboration, and an open desire to change the world for the better.
