"We worship not the Graces, nor the Parcae, but Fashion. She spins and weaves and cuts with full authority. The head monkey at Paris puts on a traveller’s cap, and all the monkeys in America do the same." (H.D. Thoreau)
View on our semi-industrial machines available for like-mindeds. (2025)
Abaseen at the KITOS fashion show with his own creation, 3 days before joining Cilab. (2023)
Mumtaz finishing the book of Ensor for the KMSK exhibition (2024)
Abaseen in workshop mode helping Fabotastix making their bombers.(2024)
We do not pretend to be the best, the first, unique. We do not go for prizes, awards, recognition.
Our aim is to be part of the transition to a circular economy in a social, collaborative & open way and make the world change.
Enjoy the story.
Shawkat & Sibille finishing the 'upcycled SIMP' collection (2021)
Since the start in 2020 Cilab has been active at all levels of the circularity processes. We have triggered the attention of small and big brands, as well as fashion and sports retailers. We have been working with different fashion designers. Cilab has been supporting many fashion and design students, we have been collaborating with different organisations on developing new practices for processing end-of-life textile and extending the life cycle of clothing through upcycling, remanufacturing and repair.
Our team and lab was enriched by textile craftsmanship from different parts of the world. Talented people, like Shawkat, Liza, Mumtaz, Viktoriia and Abaseen brought valuable know-how from different regions of the globe to the collective. We appreciate the cultural diversity they add, and the respectfulness in which we all work together.
We believe that we can make the world a better place by collaboration, creativity, craftsmanship and circularity.
Early 2024, Cilab started a 'co-habitation' with the Mode Ursulinen creating an incredible blend between education and profession. We enriched the atelier by Ziellab, an inspirational installation of the fashion world. It also opened the doors for more collaborations. This way we achieved our vision of becoming a collective sooner than we ever dreamed off.
End of 2024, we had to move due to construction works, and have been helped by Bisdom Mechelen through a co-housing with the Hanswijk Processie. Again, this is creating an inspiring, respectful collaboration with the team.
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Cilab operates on a hybrid business model,:
On the one hand, Cilab focuses on the commercial sector, mainly clothing companies. The for-profit principles are applied here. The objective is to ensure a profitable activity within the circular economy. The financial resources are used to finance our operations. Typical examples are the upcycling of collections for Mayerline, Xandres, Essentiel or the repairs for Decathlon.
On the other hand, Cilab is committed to projects with a high social purpose. Social resources (such as subsidies) and private financing will be sought for these projects. Typical examples are Ziellab, the clothing for Fabotastix and the collaboration with fashion students from Mechelen and Ghent.
The CiLAB Collective will achieve its mission more easily when supported by organisations, individuals who understand the value of what we are doing. Thank You!
Living Labs (2023 -2025)
ING Fonds voor een meer Circulaire Economie, beheerd door de Koning Boudewijnstichting (2024)
Belgium Builds Back Circular
FOD Economie en de FOD Volksgezondheid (2024 - 2025)