A comprehensive textile research environment is under development at the University of Borås. It combines scientific and artistic competences in the three key areas design, technology and management. Two strong R&D programmes – F3 and Smart Textiles – form the organizational foundation of this environment. Within the R&D programme F3 the textile value chain in its totality and complexity is the subject of scientific studies. The programme has a multi-disciplinary approach, in accordance with the overall research policy of the University of Borås. It involves research groups from a number of prominent research fields at the University, most notably Fashion and Textile, Logistics and Commerce and Resource Recovery. A close cooperation between academia and the regional business community is a condition for realization of the application profile of F3. The fact that it resides physically in Borås is part of the auspicious conditions for the programme. Both historic and contemporary factors provide excellent reasons for appointing Borås the textile capital of Sweden. Borås with the surrounding Sjuhärad area holds in its textile tradition a culture-historical heritage of trade and industry; a heritage that lives on and is constantly renewed in the dynamic textile and fashion industry based in the region.