The 2013 Théophile Legrand International Prize for Textile Innovation will be awarded on 5 October at ValJoly Eppe-Sauvage resort.

In honour of Théophile Legrand, founder of the wool industry in Fourmies, Northern France, the Théophile Legrand Foundation – Institut de France was created in 2007 by Christian Cambier, a descendant of Théophile Legrand.

Gabriel de Broglie, Chancellor of the Institut de France, currently chairs the foundation, with the main administrator paleontologist Philippe Taquet, President of the Academy of Sciences.

Prize for Textile Innovation

Since 2009, two Théophile Legrand awards have been granted annually. With a value of € 18,000, these two awards celebrate two distinguished researchers and/or students that have created original material, fibre or fabric in the field of technical textiles; or an innovative textile design and/or a new textile industrial production technique.

The goal is to foster innovation, research, and imagination by showcasing emerging technical and industrial creations.

Winners

Back in 2009 the Prize was awarded to Aurélie Cayla, France, the inventor of a ‘smart’ textile that senses specific temperatures. The second Prize was given to Christelle Reti, France, for a new ‘fire retardant’ textile now being used by the French army.

Next Year Bedek Gauthier, France, received the Prize for designing an ‘auto-refreshing’ textile marketed by Damart. The second Prize was awarded to Mohamed Abounaim, Bangladesh, the inventor of a new shock and soundproof insulation textile.

In 2011 Munir Ashraf, Pakistan, won the first place for creating a ‘self-cleaning’ and ‘antibacterial’ textile. The second Prize went to Senen Kursun Bahadir, Turkey, the inventor of an ‘obstacle detecting’ textile.

Last year Pierre-Alexandre Bourgeois, France, won the Prize for a decontaminating textile to treat air and water. Mohamed Bouraoui Kechiche, Tunisia, was recognised for inventing a sensor /effector filament piezoelectric and pyroelectric that can be integrated into various textile structures.

Foundation Théophile Legrand – Institut de France

The Foundation was created in 2007 by Christian Cambier, a direct descendant of Théophile Legrand, who is considered the ‘father’ of the textile industry in Fourmies and in the North of France.

In addition to the creation in 2009 of an ‘International Award for Innovation Textile’, awarded every year, the Foundation entrusted the writing  of a book about the ‘father’ of Fourmies to a historian Jean-Louis Chappat, an author of a biography of Leo Lagrange and an essay on the tragic events of  1May 1891, Fourmies.

Since 2009, the Foundation is also committed to reward the best students in the private school Théophile Legrand at Louvroil.

www.theophilelegrand.com