Lina Tsegaye (NL)

Lina Tsegaye is a social entrepreneur and the founder of Sustained Collective, a Netherlands-based startup redefining how events think about apparel. Her work combines creativity, sustainability, and collaboration, with the aim of reducing waste and promoting circular solutions in the events industry.

The idea for Sustained Collective was sparked by Lina’s years of volunteering at international festivals and conferences, where she saw first-hand the waste created by single-use team shirts. The turning point came in 2023 at the Social Enterprise World Forum, where she heard a sustainable fashion designer speak about the urgent need to rethink apparel. From that moment, Lina set out to develop a solution that combines reusability with practicality.

Sustained Collective now pioneers the use of bio-based washable ink technology on natural fabrics such as organic cotton. After an event, the ink washes out, allowing shirts to be reprinted for future occasions and significantly reducing textile waste.
Lina’s entrepreneurial vision has already gained traction within the events and entrepreneurship ecosystem. She has collaborated with partners including RVO for TechBBQ, Op de Ring, and Amsterdam Innovation Day, where she worked with AMS Institute, Gemeente Amsterdam, and Marineterrein to showcase forward-thinking solutions for sustainable events. Her work reflects a broader mission to show how collective action and new approaches can shift industries toward more circular practices.

In addition to her entrepreneurial work, Lina serves as a council member for the G100 Country Advisory Council – Entrepreneurship & Sustainable Businesses in the Netherlands, where she contributes to empowering women leaders and advancing sustainability-driven enterprises worldwide.
With Sustained Collective, Lina continues to push for change at the intersection of events, fashion, and sustainability, proving that even small changes like rethinking a team shirt can spark big transformations.

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