13/05/2026
Dear BASTE Balkan Society of Textile Engineers members,
Nika Usmiani, a student at the University of Zagreb's Faculty of Textile Technology, achieved historic success by winning first place in natural textile dye research at the prestigious international competition for young designers, "Colour for Tomorrow". The competition was organised by the research consortium Color4CRAFTS in collaboration with the Institute of Textiles in Manchester, aiming to promote natural dyes as a mainstream alternative to synthetic materials that pollute the environment.
Among 45 talented students from 17 countries – Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Montenegro, Estonia, Croatia, India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Germany, Pakistan, Spain, Sri Lanka, and the United Kingdom – the Croatian design was declared the best.
The winning work, entitled "Nature as the Origin of Design", impressed the international jury with its innovative approach to sustainability and outstanding aesthetics. It is a design for a tie, an authentic Croatian symbol, made of linen and dyed and printed with natural plant dyes. This success places the University of Zagreb and the Faculty of Textile Technology among the leading global institutions in sustainable design and green technology.
Nika Usmiani's concept was inspired by the Velebit degenia, a protected Croatian endemic plant. Using the motifs of its four-petalled flower and distinctive yellow colour, Nika created a modern textile language that connects biodiversity and cultural heritage.
"This victory proves that natural dyes are not just part of the past, but a key strategy for the future of sustainable fashion. The tie was chosen as a highly visible format that requires precision, and the shades obtained from walnut shells, broć root, and marigold flower show that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with luxury and sophistication," it was emphasised at the announcement.
Nika Usmiani's victory is also a success for the research team, which has many years of experience in natural textile dye research: Prof. Dr. Sc. Ana Sutlović, Prof. Dr. Sc. Martina Glogar, Doc. Dr. Sc. Iva Brlek, and Dr. Sc. Ivana Čorak, senior assistant.
The work was carried out as part of the institutional project "ZORA" (Green Technologies in Ecological Design), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.
Nika Usmiani, studentica Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Tekstilno-tehnološkog fakulteta, ostvarila je povijesni uspjeh osvojivši...
