From July 2020, ‘Textile? Future’ presented modern products from the Saxon textile and clothing industry at the Tuchfabrik Gebr. Pfau in Crimmitschau, which is part of the Saxon Industrial Museum. In the attractive exhibition, high-tech textiles of all kinds could be experienced in the truest sense of the word – from snowboards to illuminated façades and ‘hanging gardens’ to protective materials that work against viruses and bacteria.

“It is the first such exhibition with high-tech textiles ‘to touch’. We are both pleased and proud to be able to present the capabilities of our industry to the public at this location, which is internationally recognised for its industrial history,” explained Dr Jenz Otto, Managing Director of the Chemnitz-based Verband der Nord-Ostdeutschen Textil- und Bekleidungsindustrie e. V. (vti). “Saxony was, is and will remain one of the major German textile regions. We have modern spinning mills, weaving mills, knitting mills, warp knitting mills, nonwovens manufacturers, embroideries, finishing companies and garment manufacturers as well as research and training capacities. It is no coincidence that the ‘Textile Boom’ venue of the 4th state exhibition ‘500 Years of Industrial Culture in Saxony’ is located in the Tuchfabrik Gebr. Pfau. The history, present and future of our industry are now united there in a unique way. We have devoted particular attention to topics that appeal to children and young people. The completely redesigned exhibition area also has communication zones in an interesting ambience that are suitable for trade and company events. I would like to pay a big compliment to the exhibition organisers from the Helmstedt | Kluge | Rom office in Niederwiesa and their creative partners Sandra Hofmann-Trepák, Cheslo and Michael Kohl from Leipzig. With the support of more than 40 companies and research institutions, they have presented the diversity of our industry in eight themed islands in a clear, detailed and easily understandable way for laypeople.”

Minister of Economic Affairs Martin Dulig recognises the importance of the textile industry for Saxony: “Around 12,000 people are employed in companies in the textile and clothing industry in Saxony. This makes the Free State one of the four largest textile locations in Germany alongside North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. As the ‘Textile Boom’ venue of the 4th Saxon State Exhibition, the Tuchfabrik Gebr. Pfau in Crimmitschau can look back on a rich tradition. With the special show ‘Textile? Future!’ we want to look to the future: into the future of the Saxon textile industry. Today, modern textiles are more than just clothing.”

Textiles are a highly exciting cross-sectional technology and an important driving force for many other sectors of the economy. New manufacturing processes and the fusion with other technologies create innovative applications – whether for reinforcement in the construction industry, for cultivating plants and stabilising soils in agriculture, as hygiene textiles in medicine and care or as composite materials in cars, buses and trains. Textile innovations ‘Made in Saxony’ are a key to our future.’

Background: The long-term project was supported by the Saxon State Ministries of Economics, Labour and Transport (SMWA) and Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK) as well as the State Office for Museums and the Saxon Industrial Museum Association. The project is co-financed by tax revenue on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.