On 15 January 2026, the Official Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Luxembourg hosted the W4TEX National Ideathon in Brussels, organised on the occasion of the Chamber’s breakfast debate with Elisa Roller, Director for Prosperity and Competitiveness at the Secretariat-General of the European Commission.

Following the policy discussion on European competitiveness and sustainability, selected participants took part in a hands-on ideathon focused on the future of the textile sector for W4TEX, Strengthening Women’s Representation in Senior Textile Positions, is an EU-backed initiative aimed at empowering women leaders in the textile industry. True to this mission, the ideathon’s addressed Key topics including eco-design, mitigating the impacts of fast fashion, building responsible value chains, and guiding the industry’s industrial transition toward greener practices. These themes reflect urgent issues shaping the future of textiles – from reducing wasteful overproduction to improving supply chain sustainability. By focusing on such areas, the ideathon aligned closely with European sustainability goals and the sector’s need to remain globally competitive in a changing market.

The meeting culminated in the winning team earned the opportunity to take part in the W4TEX transnational ideathon meeting in Larissa (Greece), from 27 to 29 January 2026.

The event once again confirmed the value of combining policy dialogue, practical collaboration and international opportunities to foster more sustainable and competitive business models in the textile sector.