FASHION X CRAFT

Interested fashion and textile design graduates were able to apply for the fourth round of the FASHION X CRAFT program in spring 2025. The initiative aims to equip the five project participants with essential skills and knowledge to support their entry into the fashion industry.

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

FASHION X CRAFT was launched in 2022 by the Fashion Council Germany in partnership with the Swarovski Foundation and The King's Foundation, and will continue in its fourth edition in 2025 with partner eBay. The project aims to teach young fashion designers new techniques that go beyond the boundaries of traditional fashion and textile production methods. The focus is on artisanal techniques and the use of sustainable resources. This interdisciplinary program is designed to broaden their horizons and allow them to gain experience for future fashion and textile designs, thus enabling the industry to develop more sustainably. All travel expenses incurred by the winners during the project period are covered by the Fashion Council Germany.

REQUIREMENTS:

This offer is exclusively for fashion and textile design graduates whose degree was awarded no more than two years ago. Applicants should be eager to actively shape and transform the future of the fashion industry. They must also be based in Germany during the project phase. A strong interest in sustainability, craftsmanship, and innovation is a fundamental requirement.

Timeline 2025-2026:

• February 28 – April 4, 2025: Application period (Completed)

• May 2025: 3-day workshop in Berlin

• July/August 2025: 12-day residency at the Highgrove Estate in England focusing on wood and metalwork as well as mood board development

• September 2025 – January 2026: Development of a joint collection with mentoring and photo shoot

• November 2025: Second residency in Germany focusing on collection development with Good Garment Collective

• February 2026: Final presentation of the collections during Berlin Fashion Week

WINNERS 2025 - 2026 (Year 4): Aleksander Kudrischow (HAW HAMBURG), Jon Liesenfeld (AMD), Laura De Sousa (UNIVERSITY OF LISBON), Lennart Bohle (PFORZHEIM UNIVERSITY DESIGN), and Melanie Parzenczewski (HTW BERLIN).

WINNERS 2023 - 2024 (Year 3): Chantal Wehran (Amsterdam Fashion Institute), Jasmin Wottke (HAW Hamburg), Maira Gath (Hochschule Hannover), Michelle Bohnes (HTW Berlin), Niclas Hasemann (Hochschule Pforzheim) and Paula Dischinger (Institut Francais de la Mode).

WINNERS 2022 - 2023 (Year 2):

Ronja Beckmann (Munich University of Applied Sciences), Sofia Hermens Fernandez (Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp), Nari Haase (Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle), Tatjana Haupt (Institut Français de la Mode), Chelsea Jean Lamm (AMD), Nanyi Li (Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design Halle)

WINNERS 2021 - 2022 (Year 1):

Alexis Mersmann (HTW Berlin), Jana Heinemann (HTW Berlin), Julia Ballardt and Nico Verhaegen (Royal Academy Antwerp), Mirjam von Mengershausen (Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee), Philip Kofi Wagner (Hochschule Hannover), Svea Katharina Beckedorf (Central Saint Martins College London) and Taskin Goec (Kunsthochschule Berlin Weißensee)