CALL FOR APPLICATION! To-Gather in Fashion Residencies (Switzerland and Egypt)
Call for Application: To-Gather in Fashion Residencies in Egypt and Switzerland
With the support of Pro Helvetia, Fashion Revolution Egypt and Fashion Revolution Switzerland invite fashion designers from both countries to a unique collaboration and residency opportunity.
Although circumstances, business environment and design aspects differ between Egypt and Switzerland, the greater challenges are similar. Hyper fast fashion brands dictate consumer’s perception of fashion, globalisation threatens artisanal knowledge and climate change endangers livelihoods.
Small, locally rooted fashion brands that act as sustainable and ethical as possible play an important role in addressing these pressing issues. Knowledge and exchange is key to establishing a sound business. Therefore, both Fashion Revolution organisations invite fashion designers from both countries to a one of a kind collaboration opportunity. With our fashion designer residency programme To-Gather in Fashion Residencies we aim to offer a tool for exchange through our Fashion Revolution networks while educating participating designers (and consumers) about sustainable and ethical business practices.
The fashion residencies:
Two fashion designers from each country will have the chance to immerse themselves for 6 weeks in a foreign environment and culture. After a selection and match making process, the pairs consisting of an Egyptian and a Swiss fashion designer, will work together (or to-gather!) on a small capsule collection/prototypes. Fashion Revolution will challenge the designers on their perception of the status quo and allow them to dive into the host country’s history and crafts in the textile sector through exciting workshops and field trips. The Swiss designers will visit Egypt first for 6 weeks and the Egyptian designers will travel to Switzerland a few months later for 6 weeks (see details below). In both countries, the achievements will be presented at a public event.
IMPORTANT SIDENOTE: Even though the designer committs to the time abroad, every day tasks for his/her work at home is given time!
The aim of this cultural design exchange is to increase mutual understanding and learning, to give fashion designers the chance to breathe and reflect (a "step-out" of daily business), to broaden horizons by witnessing each other's realities and to create a new dimension in design. Naturally, the design process and production should center around sustainable and ethical practices.
Criteria for application:
Following criteria MUST be fulfilled for your application:
To be eligible, designers must be residents in Egypt or Switzerland
The designers should have an open mindset and are welcoming foreign culture and concepts. Communication skills in English are a must.
The designers should be in their early stages of their fashion design careers, but have at least two prototype collections/ series presentable (school projects not included).
The designers must have the flexibility to reduce their other projects for the time of the residency in order to focus on the collaboration. Of course, some time for the continuation of the designer’s principal daily business activities is provided.
The Egyptian designers must be able to collaborate and share studio space between 18th September - 28th October 2022.
The Swiss designers must be able to collaborate and share studio space between 6th February - 19th March 2023.
Criteria for selection:
You should have a broad skillset - from designing, to prototyping, to tailoring.
You should show willingness to educate yourself further regarding sustainable fashion principles and approaches.
You must show willingness to collaborate with a counterpart in the host country.
Timeline, selection process and residency dates:
Application deadline;
The call for applications will run from 6 May 2022 to 11 June 2022 (23:59). Applications must be submitted via this Link to the Google Form.
No funding will be awarded retrospectively.
Selection process:
Applications will be assessed by a jury in Egypt and Switzerland. There will be a two steps selection process. In the first round the jury decides on the potential for collaboration based on the written application (7-9 June 2022). In the second round (13-19 June 2022), the jury will conduct video calls for a thorough interview with the finalists. The final selection will take place on 20 June 2022.
Residency dates and information:
All expenses of the participating designers such as flight tickets, accomodation, travel expenses are covered. Moreover, participating designers receive a per diem.
The residency for the selected Swiss designers takes place between 18 September 2022 and 28 October 2022. The public mid-project presentation in collaboration with Fashion Revolution Egypt takes place on 27 October 2022.
The residency for the selected Egyptian designers takes place between 6 February 2023 and 19 March 2023. The public final presentation in collaboration with Fashion Revolution Switzerland takes place on 18 March 2023.
The participating designers are expected to engage in the workshops and field trips in Egypt and Switzerland organised by Fashion Revolution.
Network knowledge and intercultural exchange
In addition to the residency programme Fashion Revolution Egypt and Switzerland select another 4-6 fashion designers from the pool of applicants who can participate and benefit from the workshops and field trips free of charge. The idea is to create an opportunity for intercultural exchange and learning.
Contact and Project Coordination
For inquiries related to designers from Egypt contact: egypt@fashionrevolution.org.
For inquiries related to designers from Switzerland contact: contact@fashionrevolution.ch
This is a common project of Fashion Revolution Egypt (https://www.fashionrevolution.org/africa/egypt) and Fashion Revolution Switzerland (https://www.fashionrevolution.ch) with the support of Pro Helvetia Cairo (https://prohelvetia.org.eg/en) and Pro Helvetia Schweiz (https://prohelvetia.ch/en)
