Studio Hilo: filling the gaps in local textile production with open source spinning technologies

Currently, there are two obstacles to local production of textile products in Europe: firstly, a technology gap - there is no option between an industrial spinning machine and an electric spinning wheel where fibres still need to be drafted by hand - and secondly, most spinning of natural fibres happens outside of Europe, rendering the cost of any textile product from local fibres unviable due to shipping costs.

Studio HILO has developed several open-source prototypes for digital yarn spinning systems, which can challenge textile production in the same way 3-D printers revolutionised manufacturing.

To further rethink textile manufacturing they offer training, consultancy, R&D and build case studies through joint projects with researchers, designers and innovators. They facilitate remote workshops with open tools, co-create yarns with teams on-site and develop new textiles and technologies with partners.

By enabling micro-productions of yarn they've opened doors for local small-scale manufacturing, which allows for a revalue of fibres currently grown in countries with no infrastructure to process them.

Studio Hilo empowers textile businesses by providing a physical laboratory, custom vocational training and open-source technologies for regional textile innovation.