As a designer who has spent years creating and producing clothing locally, I’ve encountered countless challenges in fashion production. Along the way, one name kept coming up: Vestechpro. From conversations with fellow designers to research and team trainings, it was clear this Quebec-based research centre is a vital resource for anyone interested in sustainable and innovative fashion.
Located within the School of Fashion at Cégep Marie-Victorin—a place close to my heart as an alum—Vestechpro has supported the apparel industry for over a decade. Their mission is simple but powerful: to help companies and organizations develop innovative products and projects that push the industry toward circularity and sustainability.
One of the driving forces behind Vestechpro’s work is Leyla Lardja, their Research and Sustainable Innovation Manager. With a background in microbiology and extensive experience in lifecycle assessment (LCA), Leyla brings a unique perspective to the fashion industry’s sustainability challenges.
She believes designers are at the heart of the transformation toward a greener industry, needing practical tools and clear methods to create products that are both beautiful and responsible.
Leyla is deeply involved in a national initiative led by the Canadian Circular Textile Consortium (CCTC) to develop a Circular Design Toolkit for designers and brands. Inspired by a UK guide, this toolkit is tailored for Canada’s unique industry context and provides actionable guidance on:
Assessing environmental impacts using Lifecycle Assessment (LCA)
Selecting sustainable, durable, and repairable materials
Designing for circularity and end-of-life reuse
Building business models that support sustainability goals
This toolkit isn’t just theoretical—it’s designed to empower creative teams to make informed, autonomous decisions that truly reduce environmental footprints.
LCA is like a detailed “environmental report card” for a product, evaluating its impact from raw materials through production, use, and disposal. Leyla stresses that the goal isn’t perfection but smart, strategic choices based on solid data. For example, a product that seems green at first might have a more damaging end-of-life impact—a nuance only LCA can reveal.
For the growing community of home sewists interested in sustainable fashion, Leyla offers these simple yet powerful tips:
Choose natural fibres like linen, hemp, or organic cotton
Look for certified fabrics (GOTS, OEKO-TEX) or those containing recycled content
Match your fabric choice to the intended garment use—for example, recycled polyester for activewear (with precautions), linen for summer pieces
Prioritize mending and upcycling to extend garment life
Vestechpro is launching a new training program this fall based on the ISO 59000 series on circular economy, aimed at equipping local fashion businesses with the knowledge and frameworks needed for sustainable transition. This includes personalized coaching to help companies build circularity roadmaps tailored to their realities.
Fashion’s sustainability journey isn’t about quick fixes—it requires a cultural shift supported by robust tools and recognition of design’s transformative power. Thanks to Vestechpro and passionate leaders like Leyla, designers and brands now have access to resources that can turn good intentions into real impact.
I’m inspired by their work and confident that together, we can build a fashion industry that respects both people and the planet.
Want to learn more? Visit vestechpro.com.
We warmly invite the Quebec fashion community to a live panel discussion on textile circularity:
🗓️ Tuesday, September 23, 2025
🕦 Starting at 11:30 AM
📍 Core Fabrics & Closet Core Patterns — 8280 St-Laurent, Suite 301, Montreal
🎥 The panel will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel.
Panelists include Leyla Lardja, Vestechpro’s Research and Sustainable Innovation Manager, alongside other leaders in sustainable fashion.
Whether you’re a designer, educator, student, journalist, or passionate about advancing fashion’s future — you’re invited to join us!
