The Gothenburg Culture Festival works in a circular way — even when it comes to staff clothing. By giving old garments new life, the festival reduces new production and saves resources and the environment.

“Can clothing be reused and redesigned for use at large-scale events?”

That question came up in 2023. The Culture Festival and the Swedish School of Textiles in Borås started experimenting with old T-shirts and jackets from past events. T-shirts that were once used in healthcare got a new design and a space on the chest made it easy to attach and change logos.

The clothes were later used at Borås Science Park, Way Out West and the Gothenburg Culture Festival. The project showed how creative ideas can reduce waste, save resources and set a new standard for sustainable events.

From Jubilee Jackets to a Shared Resource

For the 2025 festival, the Culture Festival continued to think circularly. This time, together with the International Science Festival Gothenburg.
The project used 40 orange staff jackets from Gothenburg’s Jubilee Festival in 2023.

The old jubilee logo was covered with a neutral “CREW” patch. On the front, a velcro strip was added for new event logos. The jackets now work for any event.

They are shared between both festivals, used in spring for the Science Festival and in autumn for the Culture Festival. Other organisers can also borrow them if they create their own logo patches.

Reduced Environmental Impact and Strengthened Integration

By sharing resources, reducing textile waste and creating flexible event branding, the initiative both reduces environmental impact and saves public money.

The project aligns with Göteborg & Co’s goal of “environmentally and climate-smart operations”, as well as the city’s objective that “waste from municipal operations should decrease by 40% per full-time employee”.

The jubilee jacket project was carried out in collaboration with Fabrikörerna, a sewing workshop that combines tailoring with Swedish language training, with a strong focus on integration. As a result, the process was also deeply rooted in social sustainability.

Inspiration for the Future

These initiatives show how small adjustments can lead to major sustainability gains, and how collaboration and creative thinking can transform the way we approach event clothing. How can your event contribute to a more circular future?