Fabricademy: a new Textile Academy

Do you want to dye textile with living bacteria, 3D print new materials, investigate how to digitally draft patterns, and think about new production processes in the textile and fashion industry? Do you want to be part of the future of the clothing industry and a global network of pioneers worldwide?

You can, when you join the Fabricademy: a new textile academy program!

Fabricademy is a transdisciplinary course that focuses on the development of new technologies applied in the textile industry, in its broad range of applications, from the fashion industry and the upcoming wearable market. The two-phase program will last 6 months, with approximately 3 months of seminars and learning modules and three months focusing on individual in-depth applied project research. For more information about the lecturers and program see: http://textile-academy.org.

Call for participants
On 26 September 2017, after last years Textile Academy, we now announce a new program made in collaboration with FabTextiles and Academany: the first edition of the Fabricademy: a new textile academy. It will begin at the TextileLab of Waag and other selected laboratories worldwide.

The Fabricademy is a 6 months course (at least three full days a week) during which you will learn about the techniques, processes, machines, and tools that impact the designing, prototyping of both experimental textiles and clothing. Together we will investigate how to digitally draft patterns, work with machines (like laser cutters and 3D printers), and explore options for new materials, how digital fabrication can be applied to textile processes and dyeing techniques with living bacteria and natural dyes. Always framed in the context of critically questioning the current textile and clothing industry, its values and the way it operates.

The Fabricademy is for fashion, textile, and material designers; researchers, artists, and engineers; and all creatives interested in exploring topics surrounding the textile and clothing, working inside and outside the industry. The workshops will give you the tools and knowledge to develop your own in depth research project during the 10 weeks project development.

The program is structured in two phases: a 13 weeks program of classes and a 10 weeks project development phase. The classes will be taught by worldwide experts in combination with local experts.

The 13 weeks lectures program:

Fabricademy offers a distributed rather than distance educational model: students learn in local workgroups, with peers, mentors, and machines, which are then connected globally by content sharing and video for interactive classes. Giving you access to the network of participants worldwide, weekly exchange knowledge and learnings and access to a large database of academy learning materials and videos.

Apply here

What do you need?
A strong interest in textiles, innovation, clothing, making, craftsmanship, and technology. An interest in experimental, cutting-edge techniques and a passion for learning about opportunities in the field from experts from all over the world.

When is it?

Start: September 26th, 2017;
On Tuesdays: global lectures and reviews;
On Wednesdays and Thursdays: local lectures will be held;
Machine support on Thursdays, Fridays or Mondays.

How much does it cost?
The cost of the program is of 5,000 euro. The lab will be providing materials during the 13 weeks of global lectures and weekly assignments. Participants might be able to find financial support from:

More opportunities might arise in upcoming period… stay tuned!

Deadline to apply
September 25, 2017

What's next?
After graduating from the Fabricademy, you will receive a Fabricademy Diploma, that will be handed over during the graduation ceremony in Paris at the Fab conference Fab14. Selected works will also be presented at the related exhibition forthcoming summer.

You'll have gained unique and valuable experience in working in a process-oriented way in the Fablab, Open Wetlab and TextileLab. Learning from experts worldwide to experiment at the intersection of textiles, digital fabrication and biology.

Fabricademy is co-organised by the TextileLab Amsterdam at Waag and part of the researched activities of the European project: Textile & Clothing Business Labs (TCBL), that aims to renew the European Textile & Clothing sector by exploring new ways to design, make, work together and invent new business models.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 646133.