For three weeks during the creativity festival WONDER, an immersive exhibition revealed the hidden potential of Belgian textiles. From breathable, flame-retardant and UV-resistant façade meshes to slowly woven sculptural textile objects that give interiors a unique character: for many visitors, textiles emerged as an unexpected source of architectural innovation.
“We know far too little about textiles,” admitted an architect after a guided tour recommended by a colleague. “I had no idea Belgian textiles were this fascinating.”
From Nylon to Basalt: An Industry in Transition
“If we were to plant a flag on the moon today, it wouldn’t be woven from nylon like in the 1960s, but from basalt. Basalt is a yarn made from stone, resistant to 1200°C. No chemicals, just pure strength,” says Francis Dejonghe, chairman of Textirama. “This story symbolizes the transition our industry has undergone—yet hardly anyone knows these stories.”
The immersive installation reveals surprising applications: textiles that protect wind turbines from rain erosion, fabrics that shield whales from the impact of offshore construction, and the power of smart textiles that, using data and AI, save lives in extreme conditions — to name just a few.
Image Versus Reality
“The Belgian textile industry deserves an image that reflects its innovative power, resilience and creativity,” Dejonghe states. “Negative reporting often overshadows a flourishing sector. With Textirama, we tell the stories people don’t know: about circular process water, compostable textiles and groundbreaking materials. We show that international fashion houses turn to Belgian weavers for their technical expertise and unique creativity.”
Textirama explicitly does *not* aim to promote brands. “We leave that to the companies themselves,” Dejonghe emphasizes. By being present both digitally and physically — through exhibitions, lectures, workshops, podcasts and stories — we aim to inform, inspire, and bring the industry closer to its users. That certainly includes architects, who should already consider textiles at the very beginning of a project.”
Iconically, the Textirama venue as such was also very inspiring for architects.
The Airclad is new to the market and uses Belgian technical textiles
for its inflated walls.
Textiles with Impact on Architecture
The exhibition marks the starting point of a mission Textirama has set for itself: to inform, to shape a clear narrative for the sector, and to deepen knowledge about textiles. Think of raw materials, applications, the real state of recycling, the acoustic impact of textiles, the function of the forthcoming Digital Product Passport, standards, and how to select textiles and textile-based floor and wall coverings depending on use.
A Showcase for Belgian Textiles
INNOVATIVE ROOF AND FAÇADE MEMBRANES
Since several severe tower fires in London, European standards for roof and façade materials have tightened considerably. Together with a client, Finipur developed a product that meets the strictest safety and performance criteria (EN13859-1 or 2):
✅ Weather-resistant
✅ UV-resistant (retains deep black colour)
✅ Flame-retardant: able to meet A1 or A2-s1,d0 classification — the highest standard in the sector
✅ Waterproof, class W1 and W2
✅ PFAS-free
✅ Breathable: very high vapour permeability (< <0.1 m)
Innovative Coating as an Alternative to Drywall in Renovation Projects
✅ Innovative coated fabric ideal for renovation projects and as an alternative to traditional materials like drywall, brick or wood
✅ Quick to install, flexible and lightweight
✅ Acoustic and sound-absorbing
✅ ‘Thin solution: minimizes loss of usable interior space
FLAME-RETARDANT RED PHOSPHOR COATING FOR TEXTILES: A sustainable alternative to halogen-free flame retardants. Based on extensive research and testing, FINIPUR developed a new red-phosphor-based coating that is:
✅ VFree from halogens and antimony
✅ Highly flame-retardant
✅ Applicable to a wide range of textile substrates
✅ Sustainable and compliant with fire-safety standards for both residential and contract applications
Left, top: Metamophose, WIND
Right: VC House – Simon de Burbure, Verilin
Left: upholstery chair and curtains in linnen, Libeco, chair: Egg Chair, by Arne Jacobsen.
