Due to the outbreak of Covid-19, the fashion sector faces new challenges. Could these times be an opportunity for a reset of values, for systemic change and a sustainable re-start? Solidarity in Fashion is a collaborative research project that explores how the current situation can be used to develop alternative fashion practices that contribute to a more ethical, sustainable fashion system, and to a more conscious relationship with fashion, also on the long term.

On Wednesday 3 November the full project team of Solidarity in Fashion came together to update each other on the current state of the research. The participants from both the theoretical and practice-based groups presented their research and inspired each other for the coming phases of the project.

The theoretical workgroup formed by Daniëlle Bruggeman, Aurélie Van de Peer, Freya Zaplata, Sanne Karssenberg and Femke De Vries, is currently developing a framework in which the theoretical concepts ethical attitude, un-selfing, empathy, intersectional solidarity, social practices of commoning and Haraway’s ‘becoming-with/ living-with’ form important ingredients.

The practice-based workgroup is a collective of various designers: Anouk Beckers, Borbála Csiszar, Tanya Lauwanichpat & Lu Lin, Karmen Samson and Marco Blazevic. They each presented the outlines of their projects that explore new directions, imaginations and future scenarios for more solidary fashion practices. I.e. Anouk Beckers' Book Look (a mix between critical fashion publication and wearable garments) or Marco Blazevic’s Patchwork Family (a collective of like minded fashion designers).

Solidarity in Fashion is a project of ArtEZ University of the Arts (Fashion Professorship) and Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences - AUAS (Fashion Research and Technology Group), funded by SIA KIEM.
Partners: Adriana Galijasevic | Cocircular Lab, Anouk Beckers, Aurélie Van de Peer, State of Fashion, Warehouse, Freya Zaplata, Jan Schoon, MODINT, Studio Sanne Karssenberg.