Textile Department / Angewandte
One of HILO’s most important developments is the open-source HILO Spinning Machine. This machine is a digitally controlled device designed to produce yarn in a flexible and customizable way. Unlike traditional spinning methods, which are either slow and manual or large-scale and industrial, the HILO Spinning Machine offers a middle ground. It enables users to create small batches of yarn while maintaining a high level of control over the process.
HILO is an interdisciplinary textile innovation studio based in Berlin that focuses on transforming how yarn and textiles are produced. Its main goal is to make textile production more accessible, decentralized, and sustainable by developing open-source tools and machines. Instead of relying on large industrial systems, HILO promotes small-scale, local manufacturing that can take place in workshops, educational environments, or community spaces. By combining design, engineering, and material research, HILO creates technologies that allow users to experiment with and produce textiles independently.
Since 2015, the HILO Spinning Machine has been iterated from version 1.0 (in wood, 2015) to version 2.0 (in silver metal, 2018) to the new HILO 3.0 (in black, 2020). The HILO 3.0 Spinning Machine runs under the official standardization for open-source hardware DIN SPEC 3105 by DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.).
A key feature of the machine is its ability to digitally design yarn properties. Users can adjust parameters such as thickness, twist, and structure, allowing for rapid prototyping and experimentation. This is particularly valuable for designers, researchers, and small producers who want to develop new materials or test innovative ideas. Because the system is open-source, users can also modify and improve both the hardware and software according to their needs.
The HILO Spinning Machine supports the use of local, recycled, or unconventional fibers, contributing to more sustainable production practices. Overall, HILO and its spinning machine represent a shift toward more accessible, customizable, and environmentally conscious textile manufacturing, empowering individuals and communities to take part in the creation of textile materials.
“We believe in the power of open knowledge. By sharing information about textile hardware and software, we encourage experimentation and enable rapid prototyping specifically for local yarn manufacturing. Our work is built upon the foundation of new open-source textile technologies, driving us to constantly develop innovative tools and expand our train of machines for our customers and community. Join us in exploring the possibilities and shaping the future of open textile manufacturing.”