No ‘fashion for fashion’s sake’. Taskforce Fashion is all about research, experimentation and the transformative role of fashion. The 15 designers are stimulated to question the current reality and fashion system, to ultimately provide possible solutions for the future.
Through field trips, desktop research and in-depth conversations with experts from the field, the teams investigated the social-cultural challenges of their cities. Get a first glimpse at their research!
Team Maastricht’s research is all about the next generation: How can we improve the mental resilience of kids & youngsters through fashion? How can fashion help them to deal with and express their emotions? And how can this be done in a fun and playful manner?
For their research, Daisy, Esra, Antoine, Anouk x Vera en Iris, interviewed several kids/ youngsters and asked them about their favorite fashion item; is it about style, comfort, a specific color? By collecting info on the stories behind the clothes they wear, the designers get an insight in their world.
During their fieldtrip, the team interviewed multiple children in their natural environment and gave a workshop to children of group 8 from the primary school Manjefiek Malberg, Maastricht. The purpose of the interviews and workshop was to get to know the youngsters and specify the topic of research.
In addition, the designers had an inspiring conversation with Flore van Doornik-Joskin from Ease Maastricht, an initiative that offers youngsters free help and psychological support in a safe environment. The designers’ ongoing research consists of literature studies, mapping existing initiatives and watching documentaries like ‘Klassen’.
Team Tilburg, consists of creative talents Katja, Laura, Gabriel, Jessica en Marionella. Together with teamlead Iris Ruisch, they are investigating the creative expression of the inhabitants of Tilburg Noord. In their community, creative expression through fashion, music, art or in any other form is very minimal; it is frowned upon or sometimes not allowed at all, due to their cultural background.
To collect first-hand experiences, the team met up with several experts. In an empty store at the Verdiplein, Team Tilburg met with Aletta Scholte, Team leader of the Tilburg North police department, Valeski Boor, youth reporter of Omroep Tilburg and Chiara Riboch, youth worker at R-Newt jongerenwerk who was born and raised in the neighborhood. The interviews provided insight into the challenges youngsters experience in the area, which will serve as the starting point of the designers’ projects.
Team Tilburg will show the diversity of fashion styles within the neighborhood through a pilot photoshoot, which will contribute to Noord’s image and will serve as a teaser and poster campaign. The aim is to motivate more people from the neighborhood to contribute to the campaign and take part in the final photoshoot. Each participant in the shoot has the option to stay anonymous, however, in line with the community’s ‘No Face, No Case’ culture. To be continued!
Team Rotterdam, led by Esther Munoz-Grootveld, researches the neighborhood the Oude Noorden. Lena, Kalkidan, Lisanne, Juris and Bobinne are taking a closer look at the gentrification in this area. How can community building and finding common ground help navigate the neighbourhood through this process of change?
Strong communities are characterized by a common pride. Therefore, the team is starting a conversation with inhabitants to ask them: what do you like most about the Oude Noorden? What are you most proud of? And what is your best memory within the neighborhood? By doing so, the team will focus on creating a sense of unity by creating a common ground.
During their fieldtrip, the team sought the advice of some experts on co-creation, to learn more on how to start such a conversation. They had Q&A’s with artist Alicia Framis and Kim de Haas from MAMA, both experts in the field of co-creation. In the afternoon, the designers took part in a workshop with Maarten Bakker from Studio de Bakkerij - a cultural living room in Rotterdam Noord. He sent them on a lunch assignment to start their process of connecting. The day ended with a meet & greet with Rambler Studios, an organisation that builds communities around the world and empowers young talents through street fashion.
