The Portuguese Textile and Apparel Association (ATP) is spotlighting Portugal’s textile industry at Expo 2025 Osaka through an immersive installation titled Textile Live - Draping with Sustainable Materials, Made in Portugal, featured at the Portugal Pavilion under the theme Ocean, The Blue Dialogue.
From 12 to 15 June, the installation will present live draping performances by 15 young Japanese fashion students and one Portuguese designer using sustainable materials produced in Portugal. These daily sessions, held in the Pavilion’s Multiuse Room, will showcase fabrics rooted in circularity and environmental stewardship.
In collaboration with top Japanese fashion institutions - Osaka Institute of Fashion, Marronnier College of Fashion Design, and Kobe Bunka Fashion College, the event merges art, craftsmanship, and sustainable innovation. Draping will be done on busts crafted from eco-friendly materials, symbolizing the harmony between creativity and environmental responsibility.
Curated by Paulo Gomes, the installation features textile innovations from Portugal, including naturally sourced wool and linen, bio-based fibers derived from food by-products, recycled polyester from PET waste, seaweed-based finishes, and low-impact natural dyes.
Visitors can also explore a photographic exhibition featuring iconic Portuguese models, a video outlining sustainable production processes, and a creative display of Marias Paperdolls by artist Claudia Oliveira. These elements together highlight the heritage and forward-looking ethos of Portugal’s textile industry.
The initiative is supported by leading Portuguese textile companies such as Albano Morgado, Burel Factory, Lemar, Positive Materials, and Trimalhas, along with ATP’s international partners and sponsors including Aquitex and Mind.pt.
Through this high-impact presence at Expo 2025, ATP aims to reaffirm Portugal’s role as a leader in sustainable textiles and circular economy practices, presenting Portuguese-made textiles as both an artistic medium and a solution for a better future.
