Inés Rodriguez Wins the European Textile & Craft Award

 Inés Rodriguez has been awarded the European Textile & Craft Award for her textile designs and her work in the field of textile crafts. 

The jury of this prestigious European award has highlighted his work in the field of contemporary textile craftsmanship with the following exact words:

“Inés Rodriguez has created works at her studio, RiR & Co, in Allariz, Galicia, using milk casein fiber derived from surplus milk, handwoven textiles incorporating fiberglass, and optical fiber inserts for structural stability, as well as blankets woven from Merino wool using the Galician Gorullo technique.”

It sounds like a laboratory process, but feels like the opposite: the fiber feels soft against the skin, absorbs moisture, is biodegradable, and is the best alternative to conventional industrial materials, especially for sensitive baby skin (milk fiber).

Spain's National Craft Award recognized this work in 2023. The fact that the European Textile & Craft Award has now followed suit shows that this approach has taken hold in the industry: a bio-product that becomes an independent fiber with clearly definable qualities, through knowledge and precision craftsmanship. 

Eva Winteres, Editor-in-Chief of *The Silent Luxury* and Judge at the European Textile & Craft Awards

 

These prestigious European Textile and Craft Awards, which Inés Rodriguez has received, were established by the European Textile Academy in Bolzano, Italy.

They recognize outstanding achievements in the arts and crafts—both contemporary and traditional—and their connection to the world of design, as indicated on their website https://eurotextileacademy.com/en/european-textile-craft-award-2026-en/

The criteria used for selecting candidates focus on ethics, sustainability, and the sociological impact of textiles. The independent International Jury is composed of experts from universities and specialized institutions, as well as representatives from fields such as art, crafts, and industry. They are the ones who select the candidates in different categories.

The evaluation criteria focus on: processing quality, aesthetic design, and the functionality of the textiles, as well as the materials or fibers used and their sustainability.

Ultimately, the overall concept of the textile product must be consistent with the proposed design.

RiR & Co and a workshop for artisanal textile innovation

In light of the text drafted by the jury for the Inés Rodriguez Award  , the jury has described the RiR & Co Studio as a laboratory for textile innovation.In her work, she combines traditional artisanal textile techniques with innovation and material design while maintaining the high quality of the processes.

Some handcrafted textile designs inspire the industry to consider dual-track projects: bio-based textiles produced using new, independent textile fibers while preserving the knowledge and quality of artisanal products.

Without a doubt, the words of the award jury provide an accurate description of the textile designs created by Inés Rodriguez at her studio, Textil Artesanal, in Galicia, Spain. 

A fusion of techniques and expertise that Inés Rodriguez has honed over the years. Her deep understanding of textile fibers enables her to create high-quality products and projects that contribute positively to society and the environment.

Innovative fabrics such as the D_Leite milk protein fiber blanket,available athttps://rirandco.com/manta-para-bebe-d-leite/. This blanket has won several awards for its innovation and design, and customers appreciate its softness, which stems from the careful textile design that makes it gentle and warm against the skin.

Or traditional techniques like the Galician "Gorullo," which turns old bedspreads into heavy, unwieldy items.

Today, these looms are used in the studio to create light and delicate textile designs for handcrafted blankets https://rirandco.com/mantas-artesanales-fueguitos/ and cushions that invite you to relax and enjoy these innovative, handcrafted textiles.

Optical fiber is also used in our looms to create textured effects for lamps and luminous textiles. Here, the most innovative textile design combines with craftsmanship in its manufacture to create objects with singular and unique designs that are closer to art and collectibles.

We would like to thank the jury of the European Textile & Craft Awards and our customers 

I am proud to receive this International Textile Award—which is practically the Oscar of the handmade textile world—for my work in textile craftsmanship and design, a journey that began nearly 10 years ago.

It is also a source of pride to be the first Galician and Spanish artisan textile designer to receive this award, as it brings visibility and recognition to contemporary Spanish craftsmanship.

Special thanks to the jury, the entire organizing team of the European Textile & Craft Awards, and, of course, our business partners and clients.

Over the years, they have placed their trust in all the textile designs created by Inés Rodriguez at her Textil studio. These designs are associated with Estudio RiR & Co, including milk protein blankets, wool blankets, cushions, and custom design services.

As the European Textile Academy states,this isa unique opportunitytocombine all textile innovation with the know-how and quality of traditional craftsmanship to design sustainable textile products for the future.