BioRegen: Bio-degradable regenerative fashion

This one-year follow-up project builds directly on the first-year KIEM MV project Regenerative Renaissance (2025 - 2026), in which we explored how a Dutch fashion SME can transition from a sustainable to a net-positive regenerative business model. In that project, business partner Joline Jolink (JJ) began integrating regenerative agriculture into her fashion practice through cultivating flax for linen, experimenting with natural dyes, and hosting community engagement events on her newly acquired farm. These pilots demonstrated the potential of linking fashion production to land restoration but also revealed the need for deeper, market-tested research. In this follow-up project, we will explore a new question that has emerged from the previous study which is:
How can a regenerative, biodegradable capsule collection be validated as a scalable business model that creates social, ecological and financial value, while fostering consumer engagement within the Dutch fashion sector?
The bio-degradable capsule collection will not only serve as a tangible demonstration of regenerative design, but also as a research tool to test materials, business model viability, consumer engagement, and ecological impact. The process will combine design innovation, consumer engagement and market feedback to design a biodegradable collection that generates multiple forms of value as a proof of concept that can be applied by other fashion SMEs.
The project will be delivered through four interconnected work packages: (1) design development, (2) consumer engagement (3) prototyping, and (4) launch testing. Results will include a tested biodegradable capsule collection, an open-access white paper detailing the regenerative design methodology of the collection and its impact on different aspects of the business model. Dissemination will target both professional practice and education, contributing to KIEM MV’s mission to use design power to accelerate societal transitions.