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Postgraduate in Textiles & Technology – Fabricademy BCN

A journey at the intersection between circular fashion, digital fabrication and biology

The ​Postgraduate in Textiles & Technology – Fabricademy BCN, is a 6-month intensive program that explores the interrelation of human-technology-environment through the notions of embodiment, materiality, ecodesign, biodesign, performance, smart textiles and digital fabrication. Its mission is to (re)shape and (re)define the implications and applications of technology in the textile and clothing industry, from the fashion sector to the upcoming wearable market. The program offers a broad overview of the state of the art of the current industry and builds on “learning by doing” methodologies, tackling themes like personal fabrication, distributed manufacturing, industry 4.0, wearable technology, biofabrication, assistive technologies and sustainability.

Presentation

Change how you think, not just what you wear

The textile industry is in need of more humane, ecologically sound and efficient ways of working. We often buy, consume and throw products without any concept of environmental damage. This can be due to a lack of knowledge and education about materials – from the energy consumed in production, labour and waste produced at the end of the cycle. Fabricademy at Fab Lab Barcelona equips students with the skills and knowledge to critically reflect on these matters and become key players in an emerging sustainable future of textiles.

The program and educational environment encourages students to rethink industrial processes regarding textile production and design. Merging tradition and advanced technologies, students learn a range of skills from digital fabrication to synthetic biology and work across the creation, production and distribution of textile and fashion elements to help them establish their career as future textile professionals. Learning is supported by experts from the field who help students investigate how the textile and fashion industries can benefit from new technologies, processes and business models.

An environment which encourages creativity

The possibilities to conduct experimental research in an open laboratory give students the physical and mental space for innovative re-thinking and reframing of today’s realities, offering the resources for visions to be materialised, tested, developed and fabricated, not as a linear process, but as a spiral iteration and implementation into reality. Through the program, we are developing and implementing a new approach on how to create, produce and distribute textile and fashion elements, by using distributed manufacturing infrastructures and knowledge networks.

Working in an open laboratory, students experiment with the human body and culture by recycling, hacking and sensing. Rapid prototyping is used to create real-time feedback loops for project development, in which materials, aesthetics, sustainability and customization play equal and important roles. Students use acquired knowledge to develop a final project which may intersect multiple sectors of the future textile and fashion industry.

From 3D-printed shoes to kombucha fabric

Previous graduates of Fabricademy have worked on creating and fabricating interactive 3D-printed footwear, biodegradable garments, wearable smart hats, energy-harvesting clothing, whole 3D-printed garments, textile micro-factory pilots and more. The projects seek to test, envisage and re-establish our production and consumption models in the context of advanced manufacturing. Through hands-on learning techniques and critical reflection, students develop innovative methodologies and designs which work towards creating a compassionate, sustainable future for the textiles industry. The program collaborates with Eurecat and Reimagine Textile project, in which students have access and training to complete the infrastructure of textile manufacturing facilities and testing machines.

Students are mentored by Anastasia Pistofidou, co-founder of Material and Textile research body FabTextiles, Fabricademy and academic director of the global Fabricademy program. With dedicated biomaterial labs, access to two professional Fab Labs and a third lab at Valldaura Campus of IAAC in the Collserola National Park, Fabricademy Barcelona provides an unprecedented experience for students to study in a unique environment. The international IAAC environment welcomes students from 68 countries and over 200 disciplines, which provides all students on campus the opportunity to expand their professional and personal experiences. Alumni of the program have used their future-skills to build leading roles in the global Fab Lab network, established their own design studios and became entrepreneurs in the innovation and new materials fields. 

Research Lines

The content of the course is structured into 3 areas of research:

Sustainability

Exploring the role of future eco-pioneers and material designers for a circular and sustainable textile and clothing field, bringing together craftsmanship knowledge and disruptive technologies. The lectures and hands-on learning sessions offer a view on the past and future of sustainable craftsmanship: an array of techniques for environmentally friendly alternatives for the fields of textile and clothing. This sustainability area of research clusters knowledge from biomaterials, natural pigment & dyes fabrication, modular reconfigurable laser cut designs, and the solidification of soft fabrics into hard-structures for technical textile applications. It also introduces the participants to basic biotechnology practices.

Industry 4.0

Developing skills and exploring the field of new technologies such as 3D scanning, 3D printing (additive manufacturing), parametric design and 3D modelling, as well as subtractive manufacturing, such as CNC milling and laser cutting. A combination of intensive workshops, where participants learn how to create digital files for apparel, fashion and accessories that are enabling mass customization, local manufacturing and reshape the factories of the Future through a performance-based hands-on approach to design.

Wearable Technology

The Wearable tech research area focuses on the design and integration of electronics with and as textiles for the development of smart fabrics that are aesthetically and performance-wise enhanced with microcontrollers, sensors, actuators and programmable logics. Participants will obtain basic programming, hardware design and circuit crafting skills in order to create interactive prototypes using conductive threads, fabrics, e-embroidery and other techniques. The projects can be developed for a broad range of applications, from performative arts to healthcare solutions.

Skills

Who can join?

We wish to reach all creative disciplines dealing with design and the Maker Movement: creative players, makers, designers, artists, architects, scientists, students and others.

Fashion Designers

For existing fashion designers who are seeking new and innovative ways of working with textiles – whether this is with biomaterials, 3D printed clothing, interactive wearables and more. Fabricademy gives the option for fashion designers to become more sustainable in their practice.

Designers

We hope to benefit and increase the number of designers and creatives that self-produce goods by integrating resources they don’t have access to. Utilising digital platforms for all aspects of the creation process, to financing and execution.

Makers

This global movement merges artisanal skills with a digital layer of tools. We hope to benefit from this global community of do-ers by enhancing the connectivity between them and the spaces in which they work such as Fab Labs.

Admission Requirements

Students aiming to get ECTS certification must also provide the following documentation during the course of the program (it is not necessary to have them at the time of the Application):

a) Legalized copy of your previous academic degree. (Please make sure to arrange the legalization of your diploma as required by your country of origin (more info here).

b) An Official Translation of your legalized diploma (first you must legalize it, THEN, translate all to Spanish) to Spanish language (if not in Spanish already). Your diploma must be translated by an official sworn translator duly registered by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. List of authorized translators here.

c) A copy of your valid passport, or I.D. if you are a citizen of a member state of the EU

Faculty