Meet Eva de Laat, Creative Director and Head of MEC

Eva describes MEC as, ‘a meeting point open for designers, studios, manufacturers and consumers to challenge design and further research; along with the adaptation of new materials, applications and production methods.’ Today, this concept remains true for the Shanghai-based space. Due to its reverse approach, ‘[MEC] helps you create new materials from scratch and inspires you to make full discoveries regarding textiles, design systems and development processes.’ In place of the traditional take-and-make model, we are able to work towards an all-in-one seamless approach that truly provides innovative products.

For Eva, an essential MEC focus is, ‘building user-centric materials that last. We believe the world does not need more design, it needs better design. It needs informed design that is created by and for the community. Textiles that give and make improvements to our life, environment and social well-being. Products that enhance the way people move and transform themselves every day.’ Bringing reversed knitting solutions that are functional, smart, and considered to the market and end consumer are not about reinventing the wheel but about reinventing the future. There aren’t exclusive types of applications for these materials, instead these can be used towards a range of industries: automotive, consumer electronics, interior, smart textiles, and so on.

When collaborating with MEC, textile industry beginners and seasoned players alike, are welcome to step into this knowledge portal of a hub. Eva highlights that this will undoubtedly, ‘boost your existing knowledge when talking to professionals in different fields of the textile industry. This is an exchange & collaboration lab where you can find synergies between advanced textile research and game-changing manufacturing processes to help you create a meaningful design.’ In addition, having a partnership with MEC also provides the opportunity to gain understanding of the supply chain — giving designers access and insight to the maker's process. Valuable keys to success necessary for the textile industry.

As we moved to a more professional-personal note in our interview, one of Eva’s proudest accomplishments in the field is, ‘being a female leader (and part of a mostly female team), that has the possibility to inspire, engage, and shape the future of textiles alongside many other brilliant (female) makers.’ Nevertheless, like in any industry, the Head of MEC has faced challenges on the path to achievement, has successfully conquered and continues to find solutions. Some of the main issues she points out to us regard sustainability and shifting consumer focus on what matters. Eva underlines the fact that, ‘the textile industry is the second most polluting industry due to its take-and-make model. [At MEC] We believe that with a reversed collaborative approach, we could build products in a more circular (cradle to cradle) approach.’ Resulting in controlled excess material wastage — the MEC team is constantly reaching for new, functional, and sustainable solutions. ‘Additionally, we believe that with mass production of less-quality materials, the tactility in these will be lost. Consumers focusing too much on the fashion aspect rather than what a garment or product can do for them is often overseen. We started working towards changing that.’ By introducing ways to make materials that perform how they should, last the test of time, and look cool, is a starting point on how to slowly but effectively modify textile fabrication.

For Eva, the future vision for the textile industry with MEC looks like this: ‘a textile industry where sustainability, longevity and proper application of physical materials becomes priority in regards to our environmental situation; ultimately preserving natural resources. While the digital aspect of our modern lives, is where we let our innovative textile creativity run free.’ A true merge of embracing multichannel strategies by offering ‘phygital’ experiences. She reminds us that, ‘within MEC, we are building a future towards sharing our knowledge, innovation, and experiences in circular knitting. Becoming an incubator that gives very early-stage concepts access to mentorship and other support to help them get established.’ With these ambitious goals in mind, Eva and her team — both in Shanghai and remotely (due to Covid-19) — are ready and continue to prepare for the challenges the industry has been facing and will continue to deal with in the coming years as technology and population consumption evolves. She ends by stating that, ‘we are working hard in making several very exciting steps in this direction. We believe we can only reach our envisioned future via collaborations and partnerships.’ So what are you waiting for? Innovate tomorrow because you can.