FREEWEAR ACADEMY 2.0 presents SCIAME: Transfeminist culture, fashion design and comic illustration
xxx
Local
Italy
Emilia Romagna/Bologna
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
No
No
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): Baumhaus società cooperativa sociale Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Edoardo Last name of representative: Vanzini Gender: Male Nationality: Italy Function: xxx Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 39, Via Piero Gobetti Town: Bologna Postal code: 40129 Country: Italy Direct Tel:+39 339 525 5270 E-mail:amministrazione@baumhaus.bo.it
Freewear Academy - Le parole di tuttз is a training program promoted by Baumhaus in collaboration with the IPSAS Aldrovandi Rubbiani of Bologna, thanks to the contribution of the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna. The 80-hour training course involved 12 girls between the ages of 18 and 20 and led to the creation of SCIAME (SWARM): a unique blend of fashion design and comics, inspired by transfeminist literature. SCIAME represents the intersection of political thought, transfeminist culture and the personal experiences of the participants through six words, each paired with a clothing piece and a comic story: Appetito (Appetite), Io (I), Elettrica (Electric), No, Metamofosi (Metamorphosis), Abbraccio (Embrace).
The program started with two workshops led by an anthropologist and a researcher that explored the themes of body, sexuality and focused on creating collective means in transfeminist language. Books from feminist literature were then selected in collaboration with Patto per la Lettura di Bologna - a literature-based network promoting reading in all forms - to help the girls choose the six words to inspire the streetwear collection's concept and design. Later, a professional fashion designer expertly guided the girls through the creation of the clothing line. The garments are manufactured by women inmates in the female section of the Dozza Prison, thanks to a partnership with the Gomito a Gomito cooperative. Nothing was purchased to produce the SCIAME streetwear collection, each piece is rigorously created from the surplus stock of fashion companies in the area that donate fabrics that would otherwise be destroyed. The pieces of the collection are for sale on the Gomito a Gomito shop, to which the profits will go, and they will all be limited edition and made to order. The SCIAME artwork also includes a comic that captured the participants’ experiences and aspirations. The comic was created by a young artist and published locally by Canicola Edizioni.
Circular Fashion
Vocational Training
Streetwear
Feminist Activism
Social Inclusion
The goal of the project was to drive sustainability in the local fashion industry by offering a free training program focused on circular fashion and creating a sustainable, affordable and socially responsible streetwear fashion collection. This initiative makes contributions to advancing sustainability:
(1)By equipping future professionals with the knowledge and the skills necessary to address the industry's challenges and create environmentally and socially conscious fashion lines. The courses involved teachings about sustainable design and production methods, marketing and supply chain management, which can help improve the overall sustainability in the fashion industry.
By adopting sustainable processes and methods in the SCIAME clothes production:
(2)The line is produced entirely with repurposed materials sourced from local fashion companies which donate their excess fabrics to Gomito a Gomito, the cooperative responsible for crafting the clothing. Nothing was purchased, minimising the consumption of materials and reducing the environmental impact in the production;
(3)Also, not only are each garment one-of-a-kind limited editions, but they are are made to order, ensuring minimal waste and maximising sustainability in sales.
Furthermore, the project contributes to social sustainability:
(4)By involving young women from a vocational school in the design and prototyping of the collection, the project provides them with experiences and qualifications that can help them succeed in their future careers.
(5)By employing female inmates in the prison of Bologna to produce the collection, the project helps to equip them with valuable skills and expertise that can help them reintegrate into society and find gainful employment upon release.
(6)Additionally, by creating an inclusive and sustainable collection that promotes gender equality, the project is contributing to the general well-being of society encouraging a more equitable and inclusive culture.
The goals in terms of quality of experience were:
(1)Promote a multidisciplinary approach in creative and cultural processes to achieve complexity and high quality results; encourage the mixture between different art forms such as literature, fashion design and graphic illustration.
(2)Leverage creative and visual languages as tools to drive cultural change within the public's imagination toward a more inclusive, gender equal and sustainable society.
(3)Add value in the experiential dimension by creating a live fashion event to showcase the SCIAME products, involving the young participants and a creative network of professionals.
The high quality of the project's outcome was achieved through:
(A)The combination of next generation’s ideas with the expertise of a network of professionals who guided the courses and worked side-by-side with the young participants to create the SCIAME collection.
(B)The collective reflection about pop, contemporary and next generation’s imagery that focused the project on important themes for the young participants. The involvement of public and local stakeholders in the presentation of results, aimed to increase engagement and cultural impact.
(C)The use of fashion design as a tool to talk about self identity, gender equity, sexuality and diversity. This particular industrial sector involves a wide range of creatives, professionals and technicians, whose expertise integrated reciprocally to promote cultural changes through practical activities.
(4)The formal acknowledgement of the training courses by the Vocational School that helped valorise the work of the young girls and promote the sense of self-perceived efficacy, as well as enhancing the community-perceived value of training programmes.
This project can be exemplary in the local context because of its innovative and integrated approach which involves a strong networking, the mixture of humanities and technical competences, the focus of next generation’s imagery.
The Freewear Academy 2.0 project aimed to remove barriers to entry in the fashion industry and promote participation in the CCIs. The actions contributed to enhancing inclusivity from several perspectives:
(1)The training program targeted a group of 12 young women attending a Vocational School of Bologna. The courses were designed to meet the future challenges of the fashion industry and equip the participating group with specialised skills needed in the job market, to enhance the career prospects of young students. In addition, the program offered a comprehensive, hands-on experience of the entire fashion industry workflow, allowing the participants to explore various specialised areas of the industry and pursue their preferred one.
(2)The collaboration with public stakeholders and Vocational Schools was aimed at enhancing the adoption of cutting-edge models for professional training, promoting educational attainment and inclusivity for upcoming generations.
(3)The Freewear Academy 2.0 project employed a collaborative approach to create the SCIAME capsule collection and accompanying book. The group of young women gave the starting ideas and were then guided by a team of experts from fashion and culture to ensure high-quality, high added-value results.
(4)SCIAME is a gender neutral streetwear line designed with a focus on inclusivity, incorporating inspiration from the empowering narrative of transfeminist literature and cultural production. The use of this inspiration aimed to elevate the voices and representation of marginalised communities within the fashion industry.
(5)The project involved Gomito a Gomito social cooperative, which employs women inmates, to include people from disadvantaged backgrounds and promote the social reintegration through valuable work.
(6)Lastly, the fashion collection was priced and marketed with affordability in mind, in order to make it accessible to as many people as possible.
The project results offer the following benefits to the local community:
(1)The opportunity for the citizens to buy a sustainable, socially responsible and affordable clothing line, locally made by the women inmates. The one-of-a-kind, sustainable, and reasonably priced streetwear garments are sold by the organisation itself through an online store.
(2)Increased job opportunities and social inclusion. The project aimed to provide local students with the skills and knowledge needed to secure jobs in the fashion design industry, leading to increased employment opportunities. Also, the project provided new opportunities for marginalised groups, such as those from low-income backgrounds or those who have been in prison, helping to promote social inclusion.
Regarding the involvement of and impact on civil society:
(A)The creation of SCIAME involved a network of professionals and organisations: the creative coordination was expertly led by a local textile professional; as mentioned before, the line is entirely produced by inmates from the prison in Bologna; a performance artist, hailing from the local area, guided the conceptualization and visual design of the fashion event, skillfully directing a cast of nearly 20 novice performers, including the girls participating in the training course. Those collaborations can help stimulate the local economy by creating new partnerships and business opportunities for both the professionals and the students.
(B)The SCIAME products are designed to be vehicles for cultural change and stimulate reflections within the collective imagery. The collection is directly inspired by transfeminist culture and designed to be inclusive and gender neutral, while the book narrates life stories inspired by experiences of the young participants.
(C)The project involved also local transfeminist activists in the creation of the SCIAME collection, by incorporating their knowledge and perspectives in the fashion events and training course.
(1)Fondazione del Monte is the main sponsor and funded the project through the open call “Insieme nella Scuola 2021”.
(2)IPSAS Aldrovandi Rubbiani: The project involved a Vocational School of Bologna as one of the main partners to reach a small group of young women as participants in the training course. This is crucial in promoting a systemic change in the vocational and professional training and ensuring next generations equal access to quality training.
(3)Patto per la Lettura di Bologna (a network of public bodies, libraries, bookshops and associations to promote the reading in all forms): the involvement of a literature-based network was aimed at both adding a new layer of meaning and context to the designs and enhancing the storytelling aspect of the project. On one hand literature experts provided insights and perspectives on the themes and stories that the fashion collection is inspired by, adding depth and meaning to the designs; on the other hand they have contributed to the creation of a narrative around the fashion collection, making it more engaging and emotionally resonant for the audience. The contribution of “Patto per la Lettura” included the initial definition of books to inspire the creation of the streetwear capsule collection, guiding the young in a journey in transfeminist literature.
(4)Gomito a Gomito social cooperative: The project enlisted the aid of the Gomito a Gomito social cooperative to produce the entire SCIAME clothing line. The cooperative employs women inmates from Bologna's "Dozza" Prison and sells its products through an online store. The SCIAME collection is also available for purchase on Gomito a Gomito’s online shop, with proceeds going towards the cooperative.
(5)Canicola publisher: After the collaborative ideation and conceptual design, the production and distribution of the SCIAME comic book had been put in the hands of Canicola, a medium publisher involving illustrators in Bologna.
The Freewear Academy 2.0 project involved interdisciplinary collaborations across the fields of fashion design, comic illustration, transfeminist literature and gender studies, event planning and financial budgeting. Professionals from each of these fields worked together to combine their respective areas of expertise.
(1)The initial workshops on gender studies and transfeminist culture engaged the young women in a collective exploration of identity, sexual orientation, gender equality, and diversity management. Through an immersive experience in the world of literature and cultural production, these workshops helped to identify six keywords that would inspire both the clothing collection and the comic.
(2)The fashion designers brought her knowledge of textile production, garment design and sustainable practices to guide the participants in the creation of the SCIAME clothing collection.
(3)The comic illustration artist added a visual dimension to the project by creating a narrative to accompany each garment. These stories were inspired by the biographical highlights of the participants, weaving their individual experiences into relatable collective narratives.
The SCIAME collection was presented to the public in a final exhibition featuring a professionally choreographed fashion show.
(4)The pricing strategy was collaboratively developed by the participants, who were trained in financial planning and market analysis. The approach aimed to balance the feasibility and profitability, calculating the production costs and considering the accessibility for potential buyers.
The exchange of knowledge between the different fields allowed for a diverse range of ideas and perspectives to be brought to the table, leading to the creation of a project that was not only aesthetically pleasing but also socially conscious. Additionally, the wide collaboration helped to foster a sense of community among the participants, as they worked together towards a common goal.
Freewear Academy 2.0 brings to the local community a series of innovative aspects:
(1)The multidisciplinary approach to vocational training, in which different competencies integrate each other to produce a tangible final output such as fashion collections. It leverages technical skills as a means to raise awareness and understanding of important humanistic, social, and political issues, creating a comprehensive learning experience.
(2)The hybrid approach aimed to create an innovative model of professional training by combining theoretical instruction with practical experience in the actual production process. This approach aims to bridge the gap between training and the needs of the labour market, improve the learning experience, increase job preparedness for participants, and provide hands-on application of newly acquired skills and knowledge, leading to better retention and understanding of concepts. Additionally, this hybridization between training and production can help enhance social sustainability by fostering skills development and job opportunities for young people, while promoting ethical and environmentally conscious fashion practices.
(3)The commitment to sustainability evident in the SCIAME collection's production: the garments are crafted using waste fabrics and a made-to-order approach, resulting in minimal material waste and reduced environmental impact. This approach not only tackles future fashion challenges, but also advances the cause of a circular economy in a local context where sustainable practices in the fashion industry are scarce.
(4)The focus on fashion products as vehicles for education about sustainability, gender equality, and inclusivity. This unique approach to education offers a dynamic and engaging way for young people to learn and understand these crucial topics, while also developing practical skills. Additionally, this approach can generate public awareness through the sale of SCIAME products.
Freewear Academy is a pioneering professional training program in sustainable fashion design that recently concluded its second iteration. This unique program blends formal and non-formal education, promoting both practical and soft skills development to support individuals facing socio-economic challenges. With a successful track record in the community of Bologna, the Freewear Academy model has been widely recognised as effective and innovative within the local context.
The first edition of Freewear Academy, which concluded in 2021, provided training to 33 participants through over 400 hours of courses and activities. The project was a collaboration between Baumhaus and 15 partners, including companies, designers, cultural organisations, and public bodies. The initiative resulted in the creation of B-switch, a limited edition collection inspired by the young participants' neighbourhood of Bolognina.
Baumhaus is also engaged in a research and development Erasmus + project: Futurewear. This initiative, in partnership with several European organisations from Italy, Spain, Greece and Poland, is aimed to prototype an innovative training model dedicated to sustainable streetwear fashion.
The Freewear Academy model is highly replicable and adaptable, with features of scalability, flexibility, and modularity. The courses utilise local professionals as instructors, the creative inspiration can be tailored to participant aspirations or project goals, and the production and sales can be facilitated through existing local textile producers and sellers. This makes all necessary resources easily accessible in any given context and the creative focus can be flexibly customised to align with the project's specific goals.
Additionally, the successful completion of each program culminates in the production of a limited edition of sustainable fashion items that are sold to enhance the economic viability of the project.
The project used a distinctive methodology, crafted by the Baumhaus team through years of experience in the field of youth and vocational training:
(1)The training model blended formal and non-formal education to provide a comprehensive learning experience, striking a balance between imparting knowledge and skills, and fostering high levels of participant involvement.
(2)The courses focused on practical activities and adopted the learn-by-doing principle, minimising traditional lectures. Experiential learning can improve knowledge retention and help learners apply the concepts learned in real-world situations.
(3)The project aimed to leverage technical skill as a vehicle to encourage participants to reflect on humanistic, social, and political issues. This is designed to make the learning more relevant and meaningful to them and to help participants to see the real-world application of their skills, increasing their motivation and engagement.
(4)The training course fostered participant engagement through the creation of a small and supportive community involving the young participants. The sense of belonging that arose from collective development promoted peer learning and support, allowing the participants to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in a less intimidating environment. Additionally, this way of involvement helps a deeper understanding about the topics of the courses through group discussion and activities.
(5)The courses involved specifically recruited professionals to cover the entire didactical programme with specialist skills and teachings. Baumhaus' team, as tutors and coordinators, carefully selected experts in the field from the local sector. This allowed the project to promote high-quality teachings and engage the local community.
(6)The public dimension of results and outputs is designed to promote the young participants' future agency and also to encourage the adoption of innovative training models in other contexts.
The Freewear Academy 2.0 project mainly addresses two sustainable development goals:
- Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all;
- Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
(1) To ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all the project promoted free training courses targeting young people from more vulnerable backgrounds. Baumhaus collaborated with a Vocational School of Bologna and involved both private and public stakeholders, especially in the presentation of results, to further promote the adoption of inclusive training models in other contexts. The project aimed at transforming traditional professional and vocational training models, making them more socially responsible, valuable and appealing to young people.
Additionally, the courses included both technical skills and financial/budgeting teachings to encourage the entrepreneurial initiative of the young people involved. In this way the Freewear Academy aims to become a tool to enrich the local community and reduce entry barriers to creative and cultural industries.
(2) The Freewear Academy is a hybrid training and production model that focuses on creating sustainable streetwear collections. Through this innovative approach, Baumhaus not only provides free courses on sustainable fashion to raise awareness and promote adoption of sustainable practices in the local industry, but also implements these practices in its own production processes, thereby promoting a circular economy and encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns in the local community.
The Freewear Academy 2.0 concluded in December 2022 its results and outputs include:
(1)A free training courses of 80 total hours targeting a group of young women (18-20 years old) attending a local Vocational School;
(2)SCIAME: a collective artwork including a comic and a streetwear collection:
(2a)The SCIAME clothing line comprises six garments in different variants, entirely designed by the participants and manufactured by women inmates employed by a local social cooperative.
(2b)The SCIAME comic is an artistic expression inspired by the narratives shared by the course participants, and published locally.
(3)The SCIAME collection was publicly presented in a fashion event, involving a professional artist and a group of 20 novice performers to showcase the garments of the clothing line.
(4)The project was well attended and the participants showed a great level of satisfaction both for for the training classes and the creation of the clothing line.
(5)The overall project involved a wide range of professionals and partners: A Vocational School of Bologna; a fashion designer to coordinate the design of the fashion clothes; a professional performative artist to guide the fashion show; a young illustrator (and a publisher) to collect and narrate the stories; a literature-based network to draw inspiration from transfeminist culture; An anthropologist and a social researcher to explore topics such as sexuality and self identity; a social cooperative to be entrusted with the production of clothes; A group of social activists involved in transfeminist culture.
(6)At the end of the project ten newspaper articles had been published.
The Baumhaus team has plans to expand the Freewear Academy, including:
(A)offering at least one free training course annually;
(B)further refining the hybrid training-production model and expanding the Academy's reach through international collaborations, such as the current Baumhaus’s Futurewear project under the ERASMUS+ program.
The Freewear Academy project aimed to foster the development of new competences by:
(1) Empowering the next generation of professionals with in-depth training in sustainable fashion design and raising awareness about the values of sustainability and social inclusion through the use of creative languages.
(2) Bringing together a diverse network of fashion industry professionals who worked collaboratively with the young participants on the creation of a sustainable fashion collection. This approach aimed at elevating the quality of results through enhanced collaborations and foster system thinking.
(3) Promoting a training program covering the entire fashion industry workflow, including design and prototyping, production methods, marketing and supply chain management. This is aimed to give the participants a comprehensive framework for dissecting and analysing the issues concerning the sustainability of the entire process and encourage problem framing.
(4) Adopting a future-oriented approach based on future fashion trend research and analysis. The training program aimed to encourage exploratory thinking and to integrate humanities and creative knowledge with technical production to address long-term sector-specific issues.
(5) Engaging a diverse network of stakeholders, including public bodies and vocational schools, to collaborate and drive the sustainability movement forward through hands-on and inclusive training.
(6) Exemplifying Baumhaus' commitment to the power of collaboration and positive impact. The Freewear Academy project brought together a wide range of participants, teachers, and stakeholders to enhance collaboration added-value in projects of social relevance.
Overall, the entire project is based on European competences framework on sustainability.
