Gulnara Shakirova is a KNTRU graduate from the Institute of Light Industry, Fashion and Design, the winner of “Student Startup” contest (third stage of 2023) organized by Innovation Promotion Fund for Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurship and a participant in "Startup as a diploma" program.

She started a commercial business to create tailored flame-resistant curtains, which later can be recycled into wall coverings.

She recently defended her thesis in front of State Examination Committee for the Department of Light Industry Technology and Materials. Her supervisor was Prof. Albina Azanova, the Chair of the Department of Light Industry Technology and Materials.

“I create «safe» interior curtains. The point of my product is fire safety in public places that use interior textiles, such as: shopping centers, hotels, concert halls, theaters, cafes and restaurants. All of the wall coverings, including textile and leather materials, should comply with the fire safety regulation by law (at the same time, there is a difference in the performance evaluation of different products). Our curtains are really flame-retardant, they are certified according to State Standard (GOST).

But there is another meaning to my startup, which is to provide the curtains a second life. After their service life is done, they will be recycled into wall covering product – liquid wallpaper. Liquid wallpaper will also be flame-retardant. Currently, they are being tested in a certified laboratory, by the end of which we will have the test report. We plan to bring the enterprise capacity to 996 sets a year to meet the market demand.

My project’s goal is to ensure the fire safety of people. It is the circular economy, where all of the textile waste is recycled and reused”, concludes Gulnara Shakirova.