"Hack the Thread" Hackaton announces its winner"

Hack the Thread: Transform Waste into Worth! brought together creative minds for a weekend of innovation in Oulu, where participants used digital fabrication and circular design to turn fabric leftovers into functional, beautiful prototypes. From acoustic panels and furniture to emotional objects like the winning “Memory Egg,” the event showcased how textile waste can become a resource for meaningful and sustainable design.
HackTheThread participants, jury and organizers

Between April 11th and 13th, we spent a full weekend developing ideas to transform fabric waste into worth through the innovative use of circular economy textiles and digital fabrication.

During Hack the Thread: Transform Waste into Worth! hackaton, participants, working in the inspiring environment of Super Fab Lab Oulu and Technopolis, came up with innovative and creative ideas to give a second (and more) life to fabrics leftovers donated by Kiertokaari.

Among the projects we can highlight: a two-sided curtain with different purposes and useful for decoration; a restored armchair covered with leftover clothes, reinforced with protective layers, and featuring a built-in scratching area to redirect the cat’s attention; hardware tools created using denim as part of composite materials; acoustic panels made from denim leftovers to reduce ambient noise and decorate; a functional piece of furniture made from jeans pockets to store small objects; and a wheelchair cover designed to protect the user’s clothes from dust.

Some of the Hack The Thread projects including acoustic panels made of denim and piece of furniture made from jeans pockets to store small objects

The winner was the "Memory Egg", a soft cushion-like object made for the mother of a teenage boy, crafted from his baby clothes and stuffed with memories. It allows the mother to recall her child even when he’s not nearby.

Memory Egg was the winner of the event

The event featured insightful sessions on circular economy, startup entrepreneurship, and hands-on ideation and pitching. The hackathon culminated with presentations and awards for the best ideas at Technopolis.The jury, formed by Mayor of the city of Oulu, Ari Alatossava, Rector of the University of Oulu Arto Maaninen and leader of the circular economy cluster Aila Ryhänen, had a harttime choosing the best project idea.

Jury had a hard time choosing the best project

A big thank you to all the participants, speakers, jury and organizers for making this event a success! 🌍✨

Last updated: 2.5.2025